A 

CIRCUMSTANTIAL NARHATITB 

OF THE « 

CAMPAIGN IN RUSSIA, 

EMBELLISHED WITH 

plans of the Buttles of the Moskzva and Malo-Jaroslavitz, 

CONTAINING 

A FAITHFUL DE^?CRIPTI01V OF THE AFFECTING 

AND INTI^KESTING SCENES OF WirilClI 

THE AUTHOR WAS AN 

EYE-WITNESS. 

BY EUGENE LABAUME, 

aptain oftlie Royal Geo&rapbical Engineers, Ex-Ofl?terof the Ordnance of Prince EufeilB? 
Chevalier of the Legion of Flonour, and of the lion Crown. Author of aa Abridg- 
ed History of the republic of Venice, 

TRANSLATFD FROM THE FRENCH. 

SECOND AMERICAN FROM THE SECOND LONDON EV ITION 



ilMTTOUD: 

^PUBLISHED BY SHELDON AHH GOODRICH* 
1816. 

B, <§• J. Russellf PrinterSo 









(1 



o't. 



^.1 



PREFACE, 



I RELATE that which I have seen. A witness of 
the greatest disasters that ever befel a great nation ; 
a spectator and an actor in every scene of this sad ainl 
snemorable expedition, I present the reader with 
no fictitious narrative, artfully arranged, and height- 
ened by false colouring. The events that passed 
around me were daily recorded, and I now simsdy 
endeavour to communicate the impressions which I 
then felt. It was by the light of the burning of Mos- 
cow, that I described the sack of that unfortunate 
city. It was on the borders of the Beresina, that I 
traced the recital of tjiat fatal passage. The plans 
of the battles of the Moskwa, and Malo-Jaroslavitz, 
which accompany this work, were taken on the spot, 
at the command of prince Eugene. 

It is scarcely possible to conceive what difficulties 
I had to surmount in the progress of my work, Cum- 
peiled, like ray companions in arms, to struggle with 
the most urgent necessities, pierced by the cold, tor- 



iy PREFACE. 

merted ^iih bnng:er, a prey to every accumulated 
borror ; uncertain at the rising of the sun whether I 
should ste ils settirg ia\s, ard doubtful at nightj 
whelher I shouUl witness the morrow's dawn ; every 
thouahl seemed concentrated in the ardent desire to 
live, that 1 might perpetuate the memory of what I 
had seen. Animated b}' this irresistible feeling, I re- 
traced, each night, the events of the day, sitting be- 
side a wretched fire, under a temperature of ten or 
twelve degrees, and surrounded by the dying and 
the dead. The knife with which I had carved my 
scanty morsel of horse-flesh, was employed in cutting 
a raven's quill and a little gun-powder, mixed with 
some melted snow, in the hollow of my hand, served 
me for mk and ink-stand. 

I have composed this WQrk without personal ill- 
will, and without prejudice; yet I must confess, that 
durmg the recital of the most horrible entef-prise, 
which the ge .ius of ambition had ever conceived, J. 
cou d often scarcely restrain my inic|ignation against 
Uie author of all our mi'?lbrtunes. But the respect with 
which his former weU-earned reputation had inSj)ired 
me, and the memory of the glorious victories that I 
had witnessed, a:id in the honours of which I had 
shared, compelled me to speak of that conqueror with 
moderation and reserve. 

iHiiving constantly before me the mournful imao-e 
of a crowd of warriors, doomed to perish miserablv 
in remote deserts, I was sustained by the hope of 
re dering my feeble homage, to a courage acknow- 
led^ea even by their enemies ; and to exploits t!i€ 



BilEFACE. 

more beroic, since their object was no longer the 
safety of their country, nor even of their lives, but 
the preservation of their fame, I shall account my= 
self most happy, if my reader is convinced, that in 
the midst of so many disasters, our brave soldiers 
were always worthy of themselves ; that they stained 
not their ancient reiiown, and that, always formida- 
ble to their enemiesj they were conrj^uered by the iele= 



A 

CIRCUMSTANTIAL NARRATIVE 

Ot* THE 

CAMPAIGN IN RUSSIA. 



FABT L—BOOK L 



WILNA. 



tp we were to look into our annals for the most 
brilliant j.eriod of our g"lory, we should find that France 
ha<i never been more powerful than after the treaty 
of Tilsit. Spain, under the name of an ally, was, in 
Ideality, one of our provinces, whence we were sup^ 
plied with money, men, and ships. Italy, wisely g-o- 
verned by a prince who was at once a skillful warrior 
and an able politician, being subject to, and obey- 
ing the same laws, as the French empire, enjoyed an. 
(equal share of prosperity with ourselves ; and saw 
"with pride that her legions, transported to the Balticj 
had given proofs of the noblest courage, in order t© 
procure for France, a peace as glorious as it was 



beneficial. Germany, alarmed by our colossal ag- 
grandizement, far from o )posing our successes, en- 
deavoured merely to insure her own existence, by a 
submission to ail the great changes which subverted 
the German constitution. England, the only con'= 
slant opponent of an ambition so fatal to mahkiiid, 
saw, in the prosperity of Napoleon, a new cause of 
fear to herself, and of terror to ibe continent. Jt a- 
lous of the honour of circumscribing that boundless 
ambition, she anxiously representtd to the sovereigns 
of the north, how much it was their interest to arrest 
the rapidly increasing progress of our excessive pow- 
er, Yain efforts ! these sovereig s Imd not yet ac= 
quired the requisite degree of ct nviction, that they 
must all be united to crush the gi; nt who wished to 
devour them. Napoleon's passion for invasion, sug- 
gested to him on his rieturn from Tilsit, the idea of 
declaring an unjust war on Spain, which not oily 
tarnished his laurels, but afterwards furnished his 
enemies with the long-wished-foi* occasion of sub- 
verting his power. 

A weak prince nominally presided over that un- 
happy peninsula ; but a perfidious minister, trieache- 
rous towards his country, and ungrateful to his king^ 
and benefactoi', in reality' governed the state with a 
partial hand ; and by the most abject deference to the 
evil counsels of foreigners, degraded the nation, whose 
rights he seemed to have Uaurped only to drag it in- 
to long and shameful servitude. The credulity of 
the father, and the moderation of the son, alike pro- 
hioted his criminal views. He incensed them againist 



WIXNA. ^ 

each other, nnd parties were ^oop formed. The art- 
ful Navjoleoa profiled by the discord, which was 
thus produced, in excite a civil war, and to kindle 
Ih :t ihAiiv which was necessary tor the execution of 
the mosl: unjust and abominable project, a project 
which preseists, in the history of a civilized nation, 
an example of atrocious ingratitude, unparalleled 
even among'st barbs'/rians. 

Spain, Hoti\ilhstanding its proximity to France, 
was little known ', and the character of its inhabitants 
was stiil !e-;H understood. This fatal ig^norance mis- 
led ihe conqueror, and induced him to attempt an 
uisfortai;ate p.ivasion ; the miseries of which will, how- 
ever, be easily forgolien, when we consider that, like 
the campaign ot Moscow, it was the primitive cause 
of those events which led to the happy deliverance of 
the uoi'ld. 

It does not enter into my j/lan to recapitulate an 
ill fated aggiession, which nsade enemies of two na- 
tions equuUy generous, and who, always united by 
a reciprocal esteem, would yet have retained the most 
friendly sentiments, had it not been for the perfidi- 
ous politics of the tyrant. The struogle which en- 
sued, men^orable for its obstinacy and its vicissi- 
tudes, will fiu'nish {he historian wilh an interesting* 
subject, and the military man with ample matter for 
meditation. I shall only briefly observe, that Pro- 
vidence appears to have excited in Napoleon the idea 
of these two unjust w, rs, to convmce the Spaniards 
and Kussians, that an alliance with the vicious will 

9 



It) WlLNA. 

unavoidably prove fatal. This instrument, whicfo 
the Almight}' had employed to accoaipiish his pur- 
pose, was now precipitated from error to error, to 
show that tyranny is a crime against the common 
and inalienabie rights of man, and that it may, at alt 
limes, be snccesstuily opposed by those who march 
united under the banners of justice. 

Whilst Napoleon vainly endeavored to chase 
the English from the peninsula, a new storm was 
gathering in Germany. Austria, whooi he had so 
often humbled, could not tamely submit to the dis- 
graceful yoke under which her defeats had placed 
her. The resistance of the l;Hpaniards, and the pow- 
erful armaments of England, offered her a favoura- 
ble opportunity for again having recourse to arms, 
and endeavoring to recover the territories which she 
had lost, a'id that political preponderance of which 
she had always been so jealous. 

The new war against Austria only opened a new 
tieid of triiunph to the French. Landshut, Eckmuhl 
and Ratisbon, having been attacked, with brilliant 
success, prepared the way, at the end of four months, 
for one of the most memorable victories. The field 
ofWagrarnsaw the prodigies of Austerlitz renewed, 
and secured to France the most glorious campaign, 
and the most decisive results. 

The treaty of Vienna, which gave us peace, 
brou«-bt several wealthy provinces under our domi- 
nion. It aggrandized Wntemberg and Bavaria, and 
seemed to promise to Poland her complete re-esta- 
blishmeat. But that treaty, dictated by a power thai 



WIXNA. 11 

grasped at every thing-, miglit, like those which pre- 
ceded it, have contained the seeds of fresh conten- 
tion, if the most august and most unexpected aUi- 
ance, had not crowned the prosperity of the fortu- 
nate Napoleon. Of all the blessings which chance 
had bestowed upon him, that marriage was undoubt- 
edU' the greatest j siticeitsecured forever the deslniy 
©f a man, who haviisg risen from the humblest rank 
in society, had now become allied to a powerful mo- 
narch. Bat seduced by a prosperity so dazzling, 
he was yet dissatisiied ; and forming- SiCw, and roman- 
tic, and impious projects, he hazarded all that he 
had acquired. He wearied his good genius, and 
provoked his fate. To his own folly alone is it to 
be attributed, that that which was so well calculat- 
ed to cement his power, became the cause of his 
ruin. 

That period ought to have been esteemed the 
happiest of Napoleon's life. What more could the 
wildest ambition desire? From a private individual 
he saw himself raised to the first throne in the world ; 
his reign had been one continued series ot victories; 
and to complete his happiness, a son, the object of 
his most ardent wishes, was born to succeed him. 
The people, though oppressed under his government, 
became accustomed to it, and seemed desirous to 
secure the crown to his family. All the foieign prin- 
ces, who were subjected to his power, were his vas- 
sals. They maintained his troops, and supplied him 
with money, to gratify his luxury and Ins pleasures. 
In short, all obeyed him. Nothing was wanting to 



i2'- WJLNA. 

mnkehim'^b^.ppy ! notbingj if he conkl be bappv, w^e 
pospessed not a love of jaslice. To that sentisnent 
N'ipokoii had ever beea ahtrang'er, :r,id, conseqent- 
ly, knew not either eujoyoieni; or re|>o:se. Ag'ilased 
hy a restless spirit, and tormented by angoveni;J:*!e 
ambition, the very excess of his toriime w;»s Ins 
ruin, Amuug' at thai which it w^as inijrossihle io 
obtain, and ignorant of huninn nakire, he forgot 
every principle of honour and humasiity — lie forget 
bimjself. 
• The sovereign of the German empire, fired of a 
resistance so long' fatal to his arms, fancied for amo- 
nrient, that he obeyed his fate, m yielding to a man 
to whom every one had submitted. He K;icri(iced 
Iris glory, and e^'ea hrs oifsprmg, to obtain peace j 
thus reabzing those fabulous times, v^hen mag- 
nanimous princes devosed their daugliters to ap- 
pease the wrath of s.ome demon, who ravaged their 
country. 

All seemed dif:posed to submit to the greai chan- 
ges A-shich Napoieon had effected ; and '.he conniion 
people, whose limited concepfious seldom peaeh':«te 
into the dark miadsoi" ambitions monarrhs, ihonght 
that the surprising rdliance befAveen this man and an 
arcliduchess, muss satisfy ad his mimodi-rule desires. 
They also expected, that the tcisfier feelings of a pa- 
rent wouid leach him, that a throne is noi so lirmiy 
cemented by ambitions concjuests, purchased by 
blood and by tears, as b} wise instikilions, wh ch, 
making a government belove(i, insure its duration. 
The bemg never existed w hu posyes.sed ampler means 



WILNA. IS 

for protiioling- the happiness of niankiiid. NoUiirig' 
was requi 4 d but justice asid priitieitce. The nation 
expected th e from hi id, and granted him thai an- 
liiiDted cos fid uce, which he aiierwarcis so cruelly 
abused. P.jsterity will hesilate to decide, whether 
N^tpoleon be more culpable on acconnt of the crimes 
which he has committed, or the. oood that he msght 
have done, bulou v^hich he bestowed not a single 
thought. 

liisU'ad of COT] side riu Of "^viib calmness and mode- 
* ration, how he might best employ his vast resources, 
be ruminated 011 projects bevoind the power of man 
to execute ; forgetting what inoumerable viciiraf; 
must be sacnticed in the v dn atlempt. Coathioally 
tormented by spieeit and melancholv, tl e leasi con- 
tradiction u'ritaled him. 11ie very idea that there 
exisjed a nation sufficieally g"n at and generous to 
despise his proposals, and resist his falal iiifiuesice, 
lacerated his bosom, and poisoued the happiest mo- 
meists ot his glory. 

lu the hope of conquering that invincible ene- 
my, he vainly endeavoured to grasp the extremities 
of Europe. Scarcely did he think that he had se- 
cured him on one side, than he escaped on the 
other. Infuriated at the disappointment of liis chi- 
merical plans^ he aspired nt universal despotism, for 
no other reason, than because a nation isolated from 
the continent, and profiting by its happy situation, 
had refused to submit to hjs intolerable yoke. 

From that time he dismissed his ministers, whose 
wisdom he despised. In liis estimaiioii, talent cOh- 



14 WILNA. 

sisted only in a blind submission to bis nbsurd preten- 
sions ; and it was necessary for the greatest men to 
become the most abject slaves. Despot over his peo- 
ple and his armies, and a slave to his own ung^overna- 
ble passions, he carried his ambitious views to the 
extremities of the globe, and aspired to the empire 
of the world. Misled by his rash and hasty tem- 
per, he adopted a fal^e line of politics, and converted 
in the north, as he had done before in the south, the 
most useful and powerful of his aSlies, into a dan- 
gerous enemv. 

In his senseless dreams he overstepped the na- 
tural boundaries of France. He allotted to her a 
chimerical and romantic destiny, and terrified him- 
self with the g-roundless apprehensii-n, that Russia 
might place herself on the ancient throne of Constan- 
tine, and command the two seas by which Europe is 
surrounded. He then assumedthe prophet, predict- 
ing distant disasters to his country, and sacrificing 
the present generation to the uncertain happiness of 
posterit}'. 

Blinded by an excess of prosperity, he fancied 
that the neighbouriog powers beheld him with envy; 
and, Judging- of others by himself, he imagined that 
Russia must look with secret jealousv on the union 
between the most ancient and the most modern em- 
pires- Full of this idea, he pursued his plans of de- 
vastation ; and desiring, as he said, that his dynasty 
might soon become the most ancient in Europe, he 
endeavoured to sanction his usurpation by dethron- 
ing every legiiiraate prince in order to bestow their 



WILNA. 15 

crowns on his brothers, who, too effeminate losecond 
hiiii in his tyranra), or rival him in his exploits, only 
shone like pale satellites around an ill-boding star. 

The treaty of Tilsit appeared but a truce to those 
who knew Napoleon's character. Every one who 
compared the constantly giowiiig power of the two 
great empires, predicted an approachingrupture,and 
foresaw, in their systematic plans of aggrandizement, 
the future destruction of the gigantic edifice which 
both were erecting. The distance which had for- 
merly separated them, had likewise separated their 
interest; but the conquests ot France, having ren- 
dered her a neighbour of Russia, every thing pre- 
saged that a terrible struggle must, ere long, ensue 
between those rival powers, the shock of which 
would convulse the world. 

For more than two years, Russia and France had 
maintained a warlike altitude; but at length Napoleon 
having reinforced the garrison of Dantzic, consisting 
of a strong body of troops, and completed the cavalry, 
the artiliery-train, and the military equipages, forbore 
no longer to overwhelm Russia with reproaches. 
Forgetful that since the treaty of Tilsit, he had not 
only invaded Holiand, and the Hanse-to wns, but like- 
wise the duchy of Oldenburg, which belonged to the 
sister of Alexander, he imputed to the latter as a 
crime, that he had renewed a commercial intercourse 
with England. 

From that moment, France made immense pre- 
parations. Numerouslegionshastened from the banks 
of the Tagus to those of the Oder ; and the same 



16 WILTv'A. 

soldiers wbo, not lonj::; -is,'^, bad encampefl on tb*^ fer- 
tile pi iins of Lomb.ii'dv, saw themselves, ui.less h-ui 
three mouths, traiispcrled fco the baiTen sands of Po- 
land. 

Nj'hiag-, In^vever, had yet lra'i5>p'red respectino' 
ihese gi'eat m )vetiienl:?, e>:ce':)t the faraoas seaatus- 
consuUe,^' whsch org'inize;! She eni|> re into cohort s^ 
bans, a id arriere bans.'f Thus Fryace was ou the 
poist of beiag' engaged irs the most bloody contest 
which it had ever sustauied, -dud o le h^lf of Enrope 
was marching ag'aiast ^heother, while Ntpoleoa had 
not deigned to atFord the least inlitnalioii of it io the 
senate ; nor had that body veiiiured o desyiand from 
him aijy reasors for a war, in which France was 
about io exhaust her treasures and i.-ev blood. 

Under these circiimst;uEces all e_ves were Ir.rned 
towards Prussia, anxious to discover which p-wiy she 
would eS(3oase. H,er fortresses, and her vi'hoie terri- 
lory, were occupied by our armies ; nevertheless, an 
alliance with us appeared so Oj)posite to her true po- 
licy, and so prejudicial to her interests, that, in spite 
of the constraint and the sabjugatioa in which we 
iieid her, she long hesitated to dech\re herself. At 
hist, to the surprise of all the world, we learned that 
she had decided in our favonr.J T^ey, however, 
who knew in whatraaiiner Napoleon contracted all 

'^- Sittiog of the Senate, 10th of March, 18 J 2. 

f Three classes into which the mers were divided from 25 to 60 
years of age, fir the defence of the fronlfers aud the coasts. 

I Treaty of alHance (2ith Feb. 1812.) between his majesty the 
enijieror aix! i<ing, and his majesty (he liing of Prussia. 



ilisailidrices, observed that Prussia did not declare for 
us Jill Berlin was pressed on all sides, and the duke 
of Kegio (Oudmot) was on the point of entering it 
as a conquerer. The king- of Prussia was shortly af- 
ter compelled to abandon his capital, and leave the 
command of it to the French generals. 

At this time appeared ajiOther treaty of alliance, 
bet vveeri France and Austria, by which it was stipula- 
ted, ihat each of the two contracting powers should 
furnish the other with an auxiliary corps of thirty 
thousand men, in case of attack. Wapoieon, pre- 
tendingthathewasthreatenedby Russia,claimedand 
obtained the promised succour, which was put un- 
der the command of the prince of bchwartzenberg* 
Thus Napoleon tyrannisedover kings, as Robespierre 
tyrannised over the people. No one could remain 
neutral under either. The love of peace was regard- 
ed as treason, and moderation considered as a crime. 

Innumerable troops traversed every part of Ger- 
many, and bent their course towards the Oder. The 
king of Westphalia (Jerome Bonaparte) at the head 
of his guards and of two divisions, had already 
crossed that river, as well as the Bavarians and 
Saxons. The first corps was at Stettin, the third 
marched in that direction; and the fourth, havmg 
arrived at Glogau, replaced the Westphalians, who 
proceeded towards Warsaw. 

The composition of our army was curious and 
imposing. Were I to enumerate the different troops, 
it would remuid my reader of the description of Ho- 
mer, when he speaks of the various nations who 



18 WILNA. 

marched to the conquest of Troy. In the month of 
April ihe grand army consisted of eight corps of in- 
fantry, each ol them containing at least three divisions 
(the first had five divisions) and one body of cavalry. 
To these were joined the imperial guards, composed 
of about fifty thousand men; and three great corps of 
cavalry under the name of the reserve. The total of 
our forces may have amounted to three hundred 
thousand infantry, and sixty thousand cavalry. 
More than a thousand pieces of cannon, distributed 
amongst the different corps, constituted our artillery. 
The prince of Eckmuhl (Davoust) had long comr 
manded the five divisions, which constituted the first 
corps of the army. The second was intrusted to the 
duke of Reggio (Oudinot.) The third to the duke 
of Elchingen (Ney.) The fourth, known by the 
name of the army of Italy y and which contained the 
royal guards, was commanded by the prince viceroj'^ 
(Eugene Beauharnois.) Prince Poniatowski, at the 
head of his Poles, formed the fifth corps. The Ba- 
varians, incorporated into the sixth, were under the 
orders of count Gouvion St. Cyr. The Saxons were 
counted as the seventh corps, commanded by Gen» 
Regnier. The Westphalians, marching under the 
orders of their kiisg (Jerome BonaparteJ took rank 
in the army as the eighth corps. Only a skeleton of 
the ninth was formed, but it was destined for the 
duke of Beliuno (Yictor:) and lastly, the tenth corps, 
commanded by marshal the duke of Tarentum, was 
composed ot Prussians under general Grawert, and 
included no French, except the division of general 
Grandjean. 



WILNA. 19 

The Kussian army opposed to ns, was divided in- 
to two corps, under the denominaiion of first and se- 
cond army of the west; the one commanded by 
general Barclay de Tolly, and the other by prince 
Baarration. The number of divisions amounted to 
forty-seven, amongst which eight consisted of caval- 
ry. The emperor Alexander, who, on the 26th of 
April, arrived at Wilna with all his staff, had been 
long prepared to repel our attacks. Bat those who 
had studied our system of war, strenuously advised 
that monarch not to hazard a battle, being well assu- 
red that Napoleon's ambition would lead him into 
savage countries which, duringthe rigour of winter, 
would become the grave of his armies. 

Although Prussia had declared for us, prudence 
required that we should mistrust an alliance exacted 
by force. The French garrisons, in the different for- 
tified places, guarded them with the utmost care, par- 
ticularly Glogau, where the fourth corps was assem- 
bled. Its vicinity to Breslau, whither the king of 
Prussia had retired with the remainder of his troops, 
naturally awakened our fears, and induced the gover- 
nor to take every precaution against ^coupde main, 
which might have proved fatal to the enterprises of 
France, 

The fourth corps, which arrived from Italy, un^ 
der the denomination of the army of observation, 
seemed, from its title, to be destined alternately to 
advance in front of the grand army, and to observe 
its flanks, and lastly, to rejoin it when great events 
required its assistance. Having had the honour to 



^0 WILNA. 

belong to this corps, I shail more particularly describe 
its exploits durii'g this memorabie campaig-n. lis 
operations, when separated from the grand army, 
were more interesting than those of any other cor[»s, 
and it was generally united to the main body \^hen 
circumstances induced J^^apole^n to concentrate his 
forces. 

The viceroy (Eugene Beauharnois) before he was 
appointed to the fourth corps, which had in the inte- 
rim been under the orders of the duke of Abrantes 
(Junot) was called to Paris, where his frequent con- 
ferences with the emperor led to the belief that he 
was destined to higher functions than those which 
attached to the command of one corps of the ar- 
my. The rumour had long been spread that Napo- 
leon, desirous of terminating in person the Spanssh 
war, had announced in council that he intended to 
confide the government of the empire to a young 
prince, if circumstances should oblige him to absent 
himself from the capital. But these brilliant hopes, 
which since the repudiation of his mother seemed to 
have no foundation, were soon destroyed. The vice-* 
roy, having received his instructions seven or eight 
days after his arrival in Paris, took the road to Po- 
land, and arrived at Glogau on the 12th of May. 

Whde he remained at Glogau, he reviewed the 
troops which had been placed under his orders, and 
was particularly pleased with the fine appearance of 
the fifteenth division, consisting solclv of Italians, 
and amounting to thirteen thousand men. The sol» 
difjrs who composed it were so excellently disciplie- 



edy that g-eiieral Pino, though first captain of the 
ToyH' guards, deemed it an honour to commandthem„ 

The fourth corps was to assenible at Plock. The 
Bavarian army was there aheady ; a?;d the prince 
viceroy arrived in this town by way oi Poseo, a iew 
davs before his army. HeempK)yed this time m re- 
counoitenngf the banks of the Narew, and in unitins; 
the iines of defence formed by this river, with those 
of the lakes which extend from Angeiburg-to Joan- 
nisburg. His highness particularly examined the 
foi tress of Modiin, v% hither the king of Westphalia 
had also proceeded. The conference between thtse 
princes appeared to indicate that the banks of the 
Bng and of the Narew would be the theatre of war. 
B'lt a few days afterwards, all eyes were directed to- 
wards the emperor, who had arrived at Thorn. Ti;e 
viceroy went to pay his respects to him, and on his 
return made the necessary dispositions to effect a 
movement on the 4th of Juije. 

On that day our corps marched for Soldau, which 
it reached on the 6tb. Tne troops were ailovved a 
halt oftwo days, which were employed in construct- 
ing ovens for the use of the army. We then march- 
ed to Yillemberg, where we likewise remained two 
days; and three days afterwards we arrived at Rastem- 
bourg, a neat little town urrounded by lakes. It 
afforded a valuable supply of provisions to the army, 
being the largest and most populous town we had 
passed through since our depariure from Glogau. 
From Rastembourg we marched to Lolzen, and alter- 
wards to Oletzkoj, the last town in East-Prussia, 



22 -WlluNA. 

Two leagues further on, we entered Poland, and 
soon perceived the striking- difference between these 
two countries. In the one the houses are clean and 
well built; in the other, they are dirty and of a clum- 
sy construction. The inhabitants of the fornjer are 
civ'l and hospitable; lh@se oi" the latter consisted 
chieHy of iilthy and disgusting Jews. Many of the 
petty seigneurs were too indigent to maintain the 
proper splendour of their rank: but the higher orders 
of the nobility are brave, magnificent, and generous. 
U nsul'iied honour and ardent patriotism wili ever con- 
stitute them true heroes. The peasantry are few in 
number, and this defect in the population, joined to 
the barrenness of the soil, accounts for the uncultiva- 
ted state of the country. The sandy plains of Poland^ 
planted only with bad rye, seemed doomed to lasting 
sterility. 

We arrived at Kalwary, a considerable town filled 
with Jews. At Marienpol we found a similar popula- 
tion. Tired of beholding the numbers, and the dis- 
gusting appearance of these people, we used to say 
that Poland was but another Judea, in which a Polo- 
nese was rarely to be seen. 

During this march, Napoleon left Thorn, and 
visited the fortress of Dantzic, which his thirst for 
dominion made him regard as one of the most impor-^ 
tant in his empire. Thence he went to Osterode,, 
and passed rapidly through the towns of Leipstadt 
andKreutzbouigjin the neighbourhood of Heilsberg, 
Eyjau, and Friedland, which had been the theatre of 
\m greatest military exploits. On his arrival at Ko- 



WILNA. 23 

iiig'sberg', he made every preparation for his great en- 
terj^rise. He reviewed numerous divisions, visited 
the fortress of Piilau, and a few days afterwards, 
marching with the center of his army, traversed the 
Pi6gel as far as Gumbinnen. 

Napoleon hoped to intimidate Russia by his pre- 
parations, and to compel her to submit to his dicta'es, 
while he disregarded everything which could possi- 
bly lead to a friendly understanding with Russia, or 
to the maintenance of peace. Russia, with an excess 
of moderation, seldom to be met with in great pow- 
ers, consented that Prance should retain a garr son 
in Dantzicj but she required, attd with justice, the 
evacuation of Prussia, that a country unoccupied by 
the troops of either power might be left between these 
two great empires. These wise and moderate condi- 
tions were called by Napoleon, arrogant arid aitoge- 
tJier extraordinary demands!* and on the formal re- 
fusal of Russia to listen to the embassy of count Lau- 
riston without these preliminaries. Napoleon was ab- 
solutely enraged, and exclaimed, in a tone of phrensy 
which the slightest contradiction always excited, 
* The vanquished assume the tone of conquerors. 
A fatality involves them; let their destinies bejulfill- 
ed.' Leaving Gumbinnen that very instant, he went 
to Wdkowiski, 22d of June, 1812, and issued the 
following proclamation in his general orders: — 

* Soldiers, 

* The second Polish w'ar is began. The first ter- 
minated at Friedland and at TiisiL A I Tilsit, Rus-^ 

* SecoHd bulletin of the graad army. 



24 WILNA. 

sia vowed an eternal alliance with France, and war 
With England. She now breaks her vows, and refu- 
ses lo give any explanation of her stranoe condiictj 
until the French eagles have repassed the Rhuie 
and left our allies at her mercy. 

' Russia is hurried away by a fatality! Her des- 
tinies will be fojfiiled. Does she think us degene- 
rated? Are we no more the soldiers who fought afc 
Austerlitz? She places us between dishonour and 
war. Oar choice cannot be dittscult. Let us then 
march forward. Let us cross the Niemen, and carry 
the war into her country. Tiiis second Polish war 
will be as glorious for the Freiicl! arms as the first has 
been; but the peace we shall coiiclude, will carry 
with it its own guarantee, and wsil termmate the fatal 
iniiuence which Rassia, for fifty years past, has 
exercised in Europe.' 

This proclamation reached us at Kalwary. Un- 
becoming real greatness, it was only remarkable for 
its excessive boasting, and for the prophetic tone of 
its contents: yet, although it was but a monotonous 
repetition of the same ideas so often expressed, it ex- 
cited the ardour of our soldiers, always ready to lis- 
ten to any thing flattering to then* courage. Elated 
with the idea of treading on Russian ground, they 
proudly contemplated the commencement of the se- 
cond Polish war, and were eager to leave behind 
them a river at which they had closed their victori- 
ous career, at the termination of the first war. The 
word Niemen infl^amed their imagination. They 
burned to pass it: and this desire was the more natu- 



WILNA. ^S 

ral, as, independent of the spirit of conquest, the 
miserable state of Poland every day an^oiented our 
sufferini^s and privations. To silence onr complaints, 
the territory of Russia was always held out to us as 
the promised land. 

The Russian army opposed to ours, was com- 
posed of six divisions. The first, twenty thousand 
strong, and commanded by the prince of Wittaen- 
stein, occupied Rossiei^a and Keidanoui. The 
second corps consisting likewise of twenty thousand 
men under the orders of general Bag-aw out, guarded 
Kowno. The third, consisting of twenty-four thou- 
sand men, under general Schomoaloff, was; posted at 
New-Troki. The fourth corps, commanded by ge- 
neral Tutschkoff, was stationed between New-Troki 
and Lida. These four divisions, together with the 
guards, formed what the Russians called, the F>rst 
Anny of the West. The second army comprised 
the fifth corps, amounting to forty thousand men, ^ 
and the sixth corps, called that of Doctorow, of 
eighteen thousand men. This second army> com- 
manded by prince Bagration, was encamped at 
Grodno, Lida, and throughout Wolhynia. General 
Markoff organized in this province, the ninth and 
fifteenth divisions, which were to form the seventh 
corps, and which acted in the sequel, under the or- 
ders of general Tormasow, against the duchy of 
Warsaw. 

Such was the position of the Russians beyond the 
Niemen, when the king of Naples (Mural) wbo com- 
4 



2t» WILNA. 

iTianrled our cavalry, established his head-quarter* 
within two leas^ups on this side of the river, (23d 
June.) He had with him the two corps of cavalry, 
commanded bv g"enerals Nansouty and IVIontbriiii, 
each composed of three divisions. The first corps 
took post at the opening" of the great forest of Pil- 
W'sky. The second corps and the g-iiards marched 
in the rear. The third, fourth, and sixth corps, ad- 
vanced by MarJenpol, and marched at a day's dis- 
tance from each other. The king of Westphalia, 
with the fifth, seventh, and eig-hth corps, directed his 
march to Grodno, up the Naiew, and facing the army 
of prince Bag^ration. 

The pontoons under the orders of general Eble, 
arrived the same day at ihe Niemen. Napoleon, dis- 
g-uised as a private Polish soldier, and in company 
with the general of the. engineers Haxo, then visited 
the line of the Niemen, and from the heights which 
command Kowno, discovered the most advantageous 
point. About eight o'clock at night, the army was 
put in motion. Three light companies of the divi- 
sion of Morand (first division of the first corps) passed 
the Niemen, and protected the construction of three 
bridges, which were thrown across the river. 

A I day-break, that is to say, about one o'clock in 
the morning, we were close to Kowno. General Pa- 
jol having pushed forward the advanced guard, occu- 
pied the town with one battalion, and drove before 
him the enemy's cavah'y, which retired as we advanc- 
ed. On the 24th and 25th, the army continued to 
cross the nver at the three bridges. In the meantime, 



WILNA, 27 

Napoleon, having- arrived at Kovvno, caused another 
bridge to be thrown across the Wilia, near that town ; 
while the knig of Naples (Murat) marched towards 
Zismorij and the marshals, prince of Eckmuhi ^Da- 
voust) and duke of Elchingen (Ney) went the ont to 
Roumchichki, and the other to K-ormelov. 

I'he following day C27th June) our light cavalry 
was within ten leagues of Wilna. The day after, 
about two o'clock in the morning, the king of Naples 
continued his march, supported by the division of 
cavalry of General Bruy^res, and by the first corps. 
The Russians fell back on ail sides behind the WUia, 
after burning the bridge and their magazines, A de- 
putation, consisting of the principal inhabitants of 
Wdna^ now delivered to N ipoleon the keys of the 
town. He entered it about noou, and proceeded im- 
mediately to the advanced posts of general Bru^eres, 
to ascertain the<iirection in which the enem^ had re- 
treated. Ti^ey were pursued on the left of the Wiiiai, 
when Octave de Segur, captain of hussars, was 
wounded and taken prisoner in a charge of cavah-y. 
This distinguished officer was the first in this cam- 
paign, who fell into the hands of the Russians. 

The point which Napoleon had chosen to pass the 
Niemen was difficult to defend, Kowno being com- 
manded b) a high mountain on our side, which com- 
pletely overhung the town. But if this position had 
been even less advantageous to us, it was not the in- 
tention of the Russians to oppose our lirst efforts. It 
is said that the emperor Alexander had made every 
preparation to dispute the passage of the Niemen ; but 



5S WILNA. 

tbat at the moment at which the attack was to have 
cotnmeiiced, g"eneral Barclay de Tolly, throwing him- 
self at the ieet of his master, entreated him not to com- 
bat a formidable army which nolhing- could resist ; 
adding", that Naj3oIeon should be suffered to j ass like 
a torrent, keeping their forces unbroken in reserve, 
to be employed against him, when famine and the in- 
clenjency of the season had thinned his ranks. J wdl 
not vouch for the authenticity of this anecdote: but it 
will not bethought improbable when it is recollected 
that the emperor Alexander, after having remained 
six weeks at Wilna, inspecting his armies and recon- 
noitring the principal points which were capable of 
defence, suddenly abandoned this line without fight- 
ing, and ordered a retreat across the Dwnia and the 
r^jeper. 

On our arrival at Wilna we read the proclama- 
tion which the emperor of Russia had issued when 
he learned that the French troops had passed the Nie- 
men. It paints so truly the magnanimity and the 
equity of Alexander, that on comparing it with the 
proclamation of Napoleon published at Wilkowiski, 
and breathing a spirit of unbounded arrogance and 
injustice, the reader may obtain a perfect knowledge 
of the characters of these two conquerors, on whom 
the eyes of the world were then fixed. It was thus 
•worded: — 

* Wilna, the 25th of June, 1812. 

* We had long observed, on the part of the em- 
peror of the French, the most hostile proceedings 
towards Kussia; but we had always hoped to avert 



WILNA. ^0 

them by conciliatory and pacific measures. At 
length, experiencing a continued renewal of direct 
and evident aggression, notwithstanding our earnest 
desire to maintaiii tranquility, we were compelled to 
complete and to assemble our armies. But even then 
we flattered ourselves that a reconciliation might be 
produced while we remained on the frontiers of our 
empire, and, without violating one principle of peace, 
were prepared only to act in our own defence. AU 
these conciliatory and pacific measures could not pre- 
serve the tranquility which we desired. The empe- 
ror of the French, by suddenly attacking our army 
at Kowno, has been the first to declare war. As 
nothing, therefore, could inspire him with those 
friendly sentiments which possessed our bosoms, we 
have no choice but to oppose our forces to those of 
the enemy, invoking the aid of the Almighty, the 
witness and the defender of the truth. It is unneces- 
sary for me to recall to the minds of the generals, the 
officers, or the soldiers, their duty and their bravery. 
The blood of the valiant Sclavonians flows in their 
veins. Warriors ! you defend your religion, your 
coufitry, and your liberty! lam with you. dod is 
against the aggressor. 

(Signed) Alexander.' 

While the whole of our army was concentrated 
near Wilna, the second Russian corps, under gene- 
ra! Bagawout, effected its retreat across the Dwina, 
Prince Wittgenstein likewise was retreating to Wil- 
komer, since the dukeof Reggio (Oudinot) by march- 
ing on Janow and Chatoui, had forced him to aban- 



8.0 WILNA. 

don Samogitia. On the 28th they met near Devel- 
tovo. A smart cannonade commenced ; but prince 
Wittgenstein being driven from his position, and pur- 
sued by our troops as far as the Dwina, passed the 
bridge thrown over this river with so much precipi- 
tation, that he had not time to burn it. 

Tiie Russians being repulsed beyond the river, 
the fifth, seventh, and eighth corps, under the orders 
of prince Poniatowski and the kmg of Westphalia 
(Jerome Bona[)arte) took possession of Grodno, and 
closely pressed the second army of the west, under 
prince Bagration. Intrenched, however, in a slroisg 
position, he resisted all their attacks; and by a happy 
employment of his numerous corps of cossacks, 
commanded by the Hetman Plaloff, he wouid, no 
doubt, have long defended the provinces confided to 
him, if, after the evacuation of Wilna, he had not 
been ordered to join general Barclay de Tol'y. 
Prince Eckmuhl (Davoust) was instantly detached 
from our centre, to occupy the road to Minsk, and 
prev ent their junction. 

. On the 29lh of June, the fourth corps, which had 
hitherto remained in observation behmd the Niemen, 
came in sight of this long desired rit^er. On arriving 
at Pilony, the place appointed for our passage, we 
found the viceroy, the duke of Abrantes (Jiuiot) and 
all the staff, who, notwithstanding the rainy weather, 
were busy in constructing a bridge. The artillery 
of the royal guards was posted on an eminence com- 
manding the opposite shore. This was a wise, but 
ageless precaution ; for, on reconnoitring beyond the 



WILNA. 81.. 

Niemen, we learned that every thing was perfectly 
tranquil on that side. 

We now dismissed all apprehension with regard 
to the success of our passage, for an aid-de-camp of 
the viceroy, sent with a message to Napoleon, had 
informed us, that our troops, after having passed the 
defile from Kowno to Roumchichki, without opposi- 
tion, were arrived at Zssmori ; that even the positions 
between Rouikontoui and Wilna had been but slight- 
ly defended by the Russians; and that having, more- 
over, constructed no redoubts on the heiohts, within 
two leagues of this town, the emperor had entered it 
on the 28th instant, preceded by the Polish uhlans pf 
the eighth reoiment, commanded by prince Radzivil. 
The report of this officer mentioned, that the suburbs 
had suflfered a little from the rapacity of our soldiers, 
but order having been speedily re-established, every 
thing returned to its natural course. He likewise 
added, that this great and populous town ailbrded 
ample supplies for the army, aud was favourably dis- 
posed towards the views of Nripoleon. 

The following day, the thirteenth and fourteenth 
divisions, under generals Delzons and Broussier, 
quietly effected their passage; and the day after (1st 
July) the roval guards, followed by the division of 
Pino, effected theirs. Thus all the Italian troops pass- 
ed the Niemen in one body, in presence of their vice- 
roy. They expressed their sense of this honour by 
spontaneous acclamations ; and the prince must, in his 
turn, have felt great satisfaction at beholding the soU 
diers whum he had raised, marching undismayed into 



32 W1I.NA. 

an eneinf \s coaittty, and at a distance of six hundred 
leagues from their native soil, preserving the same dis- 
cipline and the same fine appearance, as if manceuvring 
in front of his palace. 

Scarce!} had we reached the opposite shore, when 
we seemed to breathe a new air. However, the roads 
were dreadfully bad, the forests gloomy, and the vil- 
lages completely deserted ; but the imagination, in- 
flamed by a spirit of conquest, was enchanted with 
every thing that it saw, and cherished illusions which 
were but too soon destroyed. 

In effect, our short stay at Pilony, while the rain 
beat tempestuously, was marked by such extraordi- 
nary disasters, that any man, without being supersti- 
tious, would have regarded them as the presage of 
our future misfortunes. In this wretched village, 
the viceroy himself had no house to shelter him ; we 
were heaped upon one another under some wretched 
slteds, or exposed to all the inclemencies of the 
weather. An extreme scarcit}/ made us anticipate the 
horrors of famine. Tiie rain fell in torrents, and 
overwhelmed both men and horses. The first escaped, 
but the l>adness of the roads completed the destruc- 
tion of the latter. They were seen dropping by hun- 
dreds in the environs of Pilony. The road was cov- 
ered with dead horses, overturned waggons, and 
scattered baggage. It was in the month of July, that 
we suffered thus from cold, and rain, and hunger. 
So many calamities excited in us sad forebodings of 
the future, and every one began to dread the event 
of an enterprise, the commencement of which was so 



W1I.NA. 3S 

disastrous ; but the sun re-appeared on the horizon, 
the clouds dispersed, our fears were scattered with 
them, and from that moment we thought that the 
fine season would last forever. 

After a march of two hours through marshy 
ground, we arrived at the tovvn of Kroni (Ist July) 
in which the chateau and all the houses are built of 
wood. I make this observation here, because most 
of the villages in Russia are thus constructed. When- 
ever I find them otherwise I shall remark it. We 
found some brandy in Kroni, which the soldiers 
seized with great avidity. This place not being in- 
habited by any Jews, the houses were all deserted, 
which convinced us that the enemy, in order to ruiu 
the country through which we were to pass, and de- 
prive us of all means of subsistence, had carried 
along with them the inhabitants and the cattle. 

The next day (2d July) we received orders to 
march to Zismori, to regain the great road which the 
emperor had taken. Arrived in this large town, we 
found only some Jews, still overwhelmed with terror 
at the horrible tumult which the passage of our 
troops had occasioned. The first orders were to halt 
here, but on the arrival of the viceroy, the staff con- 
tinued their route to Melangani, leaving the division 
of Pino at Zismori, and those of generals Delzons 
and Broussier in the environs of Strasounoui. 

The following day (3d July) we proceeded to Ri- 
contoul, a miserable village, with a little ehateau built 
of wood on the left, and on the right, a church erect- 



§4' WILNAo 

ed on an eminence. The prince did not; stop bere, 
bni took up his quarters at a chateau piaced near the 
branching" oft of the cross-road eadinjy to New-Troki. 
Our corps had pleased itself with the hope, that 
it was desSined for Wihia. Sadly > as it disappoint- 
ed, when on the morrow (Julv 4th) our advanced- 
guard took a direction towards New-Troki. Every 
one complained of the change in our route. They 
said that ;» fatality attached to our corps : that, ha- 
rassed wish fatigue, we were suddenly and unneces- 
sarily prevented from entering a town where we had 
expected to repose ourseives after our long and tedi- 
ous march. Our commatKlers endeavored to con- 
sole us for this disapponUment, by assurmg us that 
we should certainly visit Witepsk and Smolensk©, 
two towns which would soon make us forget Wilna. 

After four tedious hours, during which we had 
traversed noihirsg but forests and miry foot-paths, we 
armed near New-Troki, situated on an eminence 
ad surrounded by lakes. This delightful place 
formed a striking contrast with the road we had just 
qu'tted, and everv one admued its tine situation, and 
the charming effect which was produced by a large 
convent on the summit of a mountain that overlook- 
ed the town. Others were struck with the wild ap- 
pearance of the impenetrable forests, arsd the clearness 
of the waters, which are said never to freeze. They 
who had acquired assy taste for the beauties of nature, 
were nevertired of admuing this romantic spot. In 
the middle oi the lake was an old ruined castle, whose 
darkened wails projected on one side over the sur- 



WILNA. S5 

f»ce of the water, and ou the o^her seemed to touch 
the g-ikled horrizon. 

Troki appeared at first a deliglitful spot, \m\ \he 
illusion ceased the moment we entered it. We had 
scarcely approached the first houses, when a crowd 
of Jews, followed by wonsen, children, and old men 
with their beards renehing' to their girdles, threw 
themselves at our feet, and implored us to deliver 
them from the rapacity of the soldiers, who plunder- 
ed and destroyed every thihg- which fell into their 
power. We could grant them nothing- but our pity. 
The town in which we were quartered had no nuiga- 
zines, and our soldiers, having been long deprived of 
their rations, subsisted now only on pillage. This 
caused the greatest confusion. And the fatal want 
of discipline which it produced was the more perisi- 
cious, as it is an infallible si^n of the approaching ruia 
of an army. ' 

The houses of the Russians at Troki, had been all 
deprived of the.r furniture by the inhabitauts, who 
had carried every thing away with them in their flighty 
and the houses of the Jews, which were disgustingly 
dirty, had been pillaged by the soldiers. Thus an 
abode, which we had expected to hud so agreeable, 
was, in the highest degree, usipleasantand uncomfort- 
able. We had not even straw to sleep upon ; and the 
forage for the horses was procured from a distance of 
nearly four leagues. 

As it was probable that we should remain some 
days at Troki, the emperor having halted at Wilna, 
the viceroy went to him, and they had some long 



$6 WILNA. 

conferences tog-etlier. Several officers also obtained 
leave to g'o there, and had an opportunity of witness- 
ing the artifices to which Napoleon resorted to ensure 
his conquest. He excited the enthnsiasni of the peo- 
ple by the most magnificent promises, and obtained 
from them the greatest sacrifices. The nobles also 
exerted themseives to the utmost of their power in pro- 
moting the views of the conqneror. By his means, 
they hoped to ensure the independence of Poland ; 
and to restore to their coui try the glory wh.ch she 
had possessed in the times of the Jagellons, the Casi- 
mirs, and ihe Sobieskies. 

The sight of the Polish standards, floating on the 
walls of the a cient capital of the dukes of Lithuania, 
excited the enthusiasm of all the inhabitants, and re- 
called the most pleasing and brilliant recollections to 
the minds of those who cherished the memory of the 
ancient glory of their beloved courktry. Nothings 
however, more forcibly reminded them of their for- 
mer greatness, than to meet again on the borders of the 
Wdia, those warriors who had devoted the lime of their 
exile to immortalize the Polish nanaeon thebanksof the 
Nile, the Tiber, the Tagus, and the Danube. The air 
was rent with joyful acclamations. Crowds everywhere 
followed their steps. All wished to see them, to en-- 
grave on their hearts the iniage of their brave compa- 
triots ; and all glowed with the noble desire of march- 
ing under the same banners. 

Napoleon, having given audience to the whole 
body of the university, questioned the principal on 
tlie different branches of science which were taughlfe 



WTLNA, m 

in that celebrated institulion. He afterwards rpor- 
ganized the civil administration of the town, whsch 
had been com >letely subverted by the departure of 
the chief funct onaries, and by the loss of all the 
books and registers that belonged to the archives of 
the place. After the example of France, he divided 
the invaded provinces into different districts, nomi- 
nating inspectors, receivers, commissaries of police, 
and above all, intendants to facilitate the payment of 
his numberless requisitions. But he principally en- 
deavoured to stimulate the Lithuanians to make levies 
en masse, for the formation of new corps. He offer- 
ed arms to all the peasants who were itiolined to re- 
volt against their masters ; and strove, as at the com- 
mencement of our revolution, to cause a civil war be- 
tween the people and the nob lity. 

These projects certainly caused some sensation 
in the city where the em^-eror commanded ; but, in 
the towns and the country, nothing was produced 
favourable to the projected revolution. Napoleon, 
however, continued to invite the Lithuanians to assist 
him ; and to impose on them, he endeavoured to as- 
tonish the vulgar. He spoke with equal fluency, and 
sit the same audience, of the public spectacles, and of 
religion, of war, and of the arts. He was seen on 
horseback at all hours of the day ; and after having 
superintended the erection of some new bridge or 
fortification, he immediately entered his cabinet, and 
showed himself perfectly master of the most compli- 
cated scheme of politics or finance ; and often he af- 



58 WTLNA. 

fected to assist at a ball or a concert, on the eve of the 
mosT important battle. 

The comnnission which was formed for the g^ene- 
ral administration of A] Lithuania, consisted, at first, 
of onl}' five memi;ers : but Napoh on added to their 
number in proportion as his partisans increased. The 
day on which that commission was instituted, three 
proclamations were instituted. The first, which was 
addressed to the people, announced the installation 
of the provisional government of Lithuania, and en- 
forced the gratitude which was due to him who had 
delivered Pi)Iaiid from the grasp of its oppressors. 
The next exhorted the clergy to second the zeal of 
the nation, amd to obtain, by their fervent pra\ ers, the 
favour of Almighty God. The third, the object of 
which was to recall the Lithuanians who were in the 
service of Russia, cotained the following words: — 

* P01.ANDERS, 

* \ ou are under Russian banners. It was per- 
mitted you to serve that power while you had no 
longer a country of your own. But all is now 
changed. Poland is newly created. You must 
combat for her complete re-establisbment, and com- 
pel the liussians to acknowledge those rights of 
which you had been despoded by injustice and usur- 
pation. The general confederation of Poland and 
L.thoania, recalls every P»lander from the Russian 
service. Generals of Poland, officers and soldiers ! 
listen to the voice of your country. Abandon the 
standards of jour oppressors. Hasten and range 



WILNA. 39 

yourselves under the eagle of the Jag-ellons, the Casi- 
mirs and the Sobieskieu ! Your country requires it 
of you. Honour and religion equally command it.'* 

The committee of the government established at 
Wihia, which lent itself to the views of Napoleon, 
merely to lighten those calamities, which the horrors 
of the war had brought on the people, was indefati- 
gably zealous in every thing which could promote 
the interest of the administration. The department 
of Wilna was already formed, and the conquered ter- 
ritory was divided into eleven sub-districts. That 
organization, apparently advantageous, produced, 
however, no kind of benefit. The country was \h\- 
laged, the villages deserted, and all the peasants fled 
into the woods. We saw only a few miserable Jews, 
covered with rags, who, from a spird of avarice, 
chose rather to expose themselves to the insults of 
our soldiers, than abandon their infectious habita- 
tions. In short, to give some faint idea of the dis- 
order which prevailed in the midst of this pretended 
organization, I shall o riy mention, that when the 
sub-prefect of New-Troki came from Wiina, to take 
possession of his government, he was stopped by our 
troops, and plundered of every thing. Even his own 
escort robbed him of his provisions and clothes ; 
and, at length, he arrived on foot, in a condition so 
wretched, that every one regarded as a spy the man 
who was destined to be our first administrator. 

Thus the brilliant hopes with which the Polanders 
had at first flattered themselves, began to fade, when 
* See Lithuankn Courier, July 7, 1812, 



4ii WILNA. 

it was perceived, that our chief was actuated solely 
bv the puerile ambition of placing" a new crown on his 
head ; and, that whde he was unable to consoHdate 
any thina^ he talked incessantly of conquering^ im- 
mense provinces, and of subjecting- to the same «aws 
ad the same sceptre, countries which differed so 
-widely in their customs and their climates. Blmd to 
the want of discipline which prevailed in his army, 
he occasioned the ruin of the rich, and the despair of 
the poor ; and reduced the Lithuanians to consider 
those as their greatest aggressors, who had promised 
to become their deliverers. He thus exposed ns to 
the hatred of the people ; and made us the first and 
the saddest victims of his tyranny. 

While this happened at Wiin , Warsaw might 
have exhibited the sublimest spectacle, if she had 
not been under the baneful influence of a man who 
trifled with the fate of nations ; and whose plansj 
never the offspring- of m ture reflection, were always 
frustrated, when their execution required calmness 
and prudence. The unhappy Polanders, relying- en 
his flattering- promises, assembled in the r capital 
(Jui'e 28), and formed a diet. The committee di- 
gested an eloquent report, in which the orator stated 
the im ortance of the work which had been intrust- 
ed to their care. He reminded his auditors, in an 
energetic manner, that Poland, placed in the ce ire of 
Europe, Jiad formerly been a disting-uished empire, 
mistress of a country extensive i ml fertile, and 
equally celebrated for her valour and her refine- 
ments ; that for many centuries, she had with unwea- 



WILNA, 41 

ried courage, repulsed from her herders, those bar- 
barous tribes who allempted in vain to subjugate the 
civilized world: that the honour of filling their 
throne had ever been an object of universal desire; 
and that, if some little divisions had arrisen among- 
themselves, they had only obscured for a short time 
their own horizon, without carryings the tempest 
abroad. He enumerated at lensffh all that their be- 
loved country had suffered from the ambition of 
Russia, who had outrag;ed a powerful nation by fre- 
quent dismemberments. He dwelt particulary on 
the last period when Poland was annihilated by a tri- 
ple partition, and Warsaw heard, amidst the shouts 
of a ferocious conqueror, the lamentable cries of the 
inhabitants of Prjg-a, given, without mercy, to the 
sword and to the flaiiies. He showed that Russia, 
continually trampling upon Poland, gradually ap- 
proached nearer to Germany, and already aspired at 
her conquest ; and, fisially, he demonstrated that such 
a fatal superiority of power, must ultimately destroy 
the rights of every nation, and subject the whole world 
to its empire. 

After this rapid exposition of facts, the speaker 
made a less animated, but not a less judicious, enu- 
meration of the weighty reasons which ought to 
unite Poland to France. * Europe,' said he, ' re- 
quires some rest after twenty-five years of violent 
agitation. Her system will remain incomplete, nor 
will the reward of her struggles and her blood be se^ 
cure as long as the regions of the north are permit- 
ted to vomit forth those hordes, to the, true character 



42 VVILNA. 

of which it becomes us to be no longer blind. They 
are no more those whom necessity alone forced to 
quit their savage abodes, and to seek in other lands 
the comforts which their own inhospitable climate 
denied. A blind instinct once served them instead of 
the arts wiiich civilize or defend olher countries. 
But now the refinements of polished nations are 
united to the barbarism of former times. The Rus- 
sian has supplicated from the European, and he 
has now learned from him all the arts of attack 
and defence, and he has made them the instruments 
of desolation and destruciioo. He is, in some re- 
spects, the equal of the European, and he may soon 
become his master. In Russia, superstitious and 
submissive slaves unhesitatingly obey the orders of a 
government, to whom every outrage is familiar. For 
a century past they have been busily employed in 
undei mining all those banks which have restrained 
a torrent I hat threatens destruction to the world. 
How often have they overflowed them, urged either 
by their own ambiiion, or invited by imprudent 
princes to whom they brought slavery instead of 
assistance. Russia, in the course of fifty years, has 
twenty times overwhelmed the south of Europe with 
her arms. The empire of Constantinople is almost 
subverted, and hsr crescent shorn of half its splen- 
dour.' 

Aiiimated by his subject, he thus continued :— - 
' Henceforth the children of the Piasts and the Ja- 
geilons, will be proud to bear a name which was the 
giory of their ancestors ; a name at which they grew 



WJLNA. 43 

pale, whom fraud and injustice have, for a short time, 
made our masters. Let us not doubt that this country 
once so rich in heroes, will recover all her wonted 
glory, tehe will produce new Sigismonds, and new 
Sobieskies. She will shine with more brilliant and 
purer lustre ; and surrounding' nations, compelled to 
do us justice, will acknowledge that nothing was 
wanting in Poland for the growth of everv virtue, but 
the cultivation of the soil by the free and unfettered 
hands of her own children.' 

Then addressing the venerable old man*, who, 
from his services and his virtues, presided at the as- 
sembly, he concluded with the following beautiful 
apostrophe : — * Nestor of the Polish patriots, when you 
left them, you carried with you the gods which had 
escaped the overthrow of your country. They return 
to it to-day, to receive eternal adoration ; and to dwell 
in it as in a temple, around which the whole nation, in- 
structed by their misfortunes, and awakened to vigil- 
ance by the surprises from which they have suffered, 
will not cease to maintain a constant guard; which 
they will enrich with every virtue that has adorned the 
Polish character, and which they pledge themselves to 
defend at the hazard of their lives.' 

After this harangue the orator submitted another 
report to the diet, in which he explained the motives 
that had induced the committee to draw up the act of 
confederation; declaring that it was the wish of the 
nation to offer the crown to the king of Saxony ; who, 
too wise and too virtuous to object, would condescend 

# Prinee Czartoryski, grand marshal at the diet. 



44. WII.NA. 

they bopedl, to accept it, and unite, with Divine Provi- 
dence in restoring the arms of Lithuania to their es- 
cutcheon, and in spreading" through the fertile coun- 
tries of Wolhynia, and the extensive plains of PodoHa 
and the Ukraine, the ciieering- sounds of, Lon^ live 
Poland ! Long live our Country ! 

The committee then produced the act of confe- 
deration, the chief articles of which consisted, in 
iinitiitg- every part of ancient Poland, in the forma- 
tion of the new kingdom; in recalling the Pohiid- 
ers from the Russian service; and lastly, in sending a 
deputation to the emperor Napoleon, soliciting him 
to extend his powerful protection over the cradle of 
Polish liberty. 

The deputation was admitted to Napoleon the 
night before his departure frosn Wilaa. They sub- 
mitted to him the act of confederation, of which we 
have just spoken The conqueror gave them eva- 
sive promises. Perhaps he was offended that the 
noble Polish nation had not thrown itself at his feet, 
to obtain the honour of becoming a part of the great 
empire. The liberty which they demanded, appear- 
ed to disquiet and to surprise him. He feared that 
the assembly which he had convoked, and which 
seemed now so willing to second his views, might, 
hereafter, prove less submissive to his wishes. It is 
the peculiar character of tyrants, to be suspicious 
even when they are doing good ; to take umbrrige at 
the objects of their own protection; and to be alarm- 
ed at the independence of others, even if it has been 
their own work. Napoleon, therefore, made no deci- 



give promises, but exacted, as preliminaries, enor- 
mous sacrifices, and a devoiion to his interest, with 
which the Polanders could not comply, without put- 
ting* to the hazard their hopes of" future happiness.. 
He demanded that the provinces subjected to Russia, 
should declare themselves against her, even before his 
arrival, and that Gallifcia should \form no j>art ot" the 
confederation, because he had guaranteed to Austria 
the integrity of her states. 

If all these extensive projects had been conceived 
by a prudent head, more anxious for the welfare of 
mankind, than the gratification of its own ambitioo, 
there is no doubt that, although gigantic, they might 
have been realized. Napoleon had attained so high a 
degree of power, that it was not necessary for him to 
resort to war, to accomplish any purpose. By a policy 
prudent, skillful, and, above all, conciliatory, he might 
have made more lasting, and even more extensive con- 
quests, than he had gained by force of arms. Poste- 
rity will perceive that he was dazzled by too much 
prosperity, and employed incalculable means to ac- 
complish his own downfall, while he might have suc- 
ceeded to the utmost of his wishes, without hazarding: 
or compromising any thing. An enemy to whatever 
required patience and reflection, he knew nothing but 
force ; and Heaven permitted him to be crushed by 
that very power, which, till then, had been his only 
law. 

The brave Polanders, despairing for their coun- 
try, considered all their plans as chimerical, whet? 
they perceived that Napoleon, more ambitious and 



46 WILNA. 

less virtuous than Charles XII, aspired at the Folish- 
crown, and only promised them his assistance, that he 
mig^ht profit by their resentment against Russia. 
Thus, that fortunate conqueror, restless, even on the 
most splendid throne of Europe, was led astray by the 
excess of his conquests, and strangely imagined that 
he could not cement his fortune better than by sub- 
verting the whole world, and renewing in the north 
the horrible wars of the middle age, when nations, ex- 
asperated against each other, delivered themselves up 
to every excess of barbarity. 



BOOK 11. 



WITEPSK, 



Whilst Napoleon remained at Wilna, marshal 
Davoust proceeded to Minsk, in pursuit of prince 
Bagration, who endeavoured to effect a junction with 
the army of Barclay de Tolly. By that manoeuvre 
we prevented the Russian prince from marching on 
the Dwina, and forced hsm to proceed towards Mo- 
hilow, on the Nieper, whither he was pursued by the 
first corps, and the cavalry of general Grouchy. All 
our other corps, which formed the centre, directed 
their course towards Dinabourg-. With regard to 
the fourth corps, the two French divisions, and the 
royal guards, took the road of Paradomin in their 
march to Ochmiana j whdst the viceroy, the division 
oi Pino, and ail the cavalry, marched to Rndniki. 

This latter movement was rendered necessary in 
consequence of information which we had received, 
that the Hetman Platow, at the head of four thou- 
sand cossacks, having been separated fiom the corps 
of Bagration, was expected on the road of Lida, 
where he would endeavour to effect a junction with 
tlie Russian army, which^ had evacuated Wdna. At 
this news the viceroy put himself in motion, but the 
road to Rudniki was so bad, that the cavalry of the 



iS \^ITEPSK. 

roj/al givjjid was ublig-ed to pursue a different routCo 
It is not possible to form an idea of the difficulties 
Vi'hich prenented themselves on that road, which was 
entirely formed of the trunks of fir-trees, placed on 
the marshy grouiid. The horses in passing over 
these pieces of wood frequently trod between ihem, 
and, falling \a thus situation, inevitably broke their 
leg's. If, to avoid these ditficuUies, we turned to die 
rig^ht or left, we were in danger of sinking into mo- 
rasses, from which there was no possibility of escape. 

The staff, after having lost some horses belong- 
ino- to our escort, at last succeeded in extricatins: 
itself from this dangerous passage, and arrived at 
Kudniki in the middle of the night. The following 
morning (July 8lh) we marched towards Jachounoui, 
where we regained the great road. Thence we pro- 
ceeded to Mal-Solechniki. The prince, however, 
would not stop there ; but pursued his route to Bol- 
Soiechniki, where he intended to remain during the 
iiiglit, and hoped to receive some tidings of the cos- 
sacks, whom he hsnl orders to pursue. The follow- 
ing day we continued oar march, and arrived at a 
castle not far distant from Soubotniki. 

The viceroy was obliged to halt here, for the bad 
roads having impeded the march of the thirteenth 
and fourteenth divisions, as well as the Italian corps, 
we had nothing but the light cavalry with us. The 
order which had been sent for hastening their pro- 
gress, was, by some mistake, returned to the chief of 
the staff, so that these troops having received no in- 
structions' had retained their position, while we be- 



WSTEPSK. 49 

lieved that they were following us. At \eng\h, see- 
ing- that they did not arrive, some intellig-ent officers 
were sent out in all directions, who succeeded, after 
a io ig search, in extricating the division ol Pino 
from the marshes of Kudaiki, and conducting the 
guard towards Ochmiana. The viceroy, in the mean 
time, after having searched in vain for the cossacks, 
returned and marched towards Jachou loui, where he 
joined the thirteenth and fourtte ah divisions. On 
the following day (July 12th), they all took the road 
towards Smorghoni, where they effected a junction 
with the rest of the troops who composed tiie fourth 
corps. 

The town of Smorghoni is large and populous, 
yet all the houses, with the exception of two or three, 
are built of wood. A little river, with a bridore 
thrown over it, divides the castle from the town. 
The inhabitants consist chiefly of Jews, who carry on 
considerable commerce. For this reason, thongh 
the town contained little that was remarkable, the 
halt which we made in it was delightful to the whole 
army, for it enabled us to procure a supply of bread 
and beer. 

Duiing the day that we reposed at Smorghoni, 
we erected a bridge over the Narotsch, that we might 
proceed in a direct line to Yileika. But the work was 
hardly finished when the orders were changed, and the 
majority of the troops marched toZachkevitschi, where 
Ihey remained that night. 

The road from Zachkevitschi to Vileika is very 
sandy, and lies through a ih'ck forest. A little be= 
7 



50 WITEPSK. 

fore we arrived here, we crossed the Wilia over a 
floating- bridge. The river at this place is neither 
very broad nor deep, but its banks are extremely steep, 
particularly the one opposite Vileika. On entering' 
the town, General Colbert, who commanded the ad- 
vanced-guard, took somf^ magazines which had been 
abandoned ; and as a shert time only had elapsed 
since the enemy had quitted that position, the viceroy 
redoubled his vigilance, for fear of a surprise, and 
selected with tlie utmost care, an advantageous situa- 
tion for his troops to encamp. 

Whilst we marched towards Yileika, the king" of 
ISaples (Murat), assisted by the second and third 
corps, drove the first western army from one position 
to another behind the Dwina, and at last forced them 
to retire into the intrenched camp of Drissa. On our 
right, prince Eckmuhl (Davoust) continued the pur- 
suit of prince Bagration, and arrived without fight- 
ing, as far as Borisow, on the Berezina. On our left 
the marshal duke of Tarentum likewise obtained im- 
portant advantages and took entire possession of Sa- 
in oj^iti a. 

The conduct of the enemy in thus continually 
flying before us was accounteii for in diflerent ways. 
Some thought it was the efl?ect of weakness, others 
believed it to be the result of a well-digested plan. 
* What is become of those Russians,' asked the for- 
mer, * who, for more than fiity years, have been the 
terror of Europe, and the conquerors of Asia ? The 
power of Russia seems to be merely fictitious, in- 
vented by hireling writers, and deceitful travellerso 



WITEPSK. 51 

It exists only in inaaoination, and the phantom va- 
nishes the mosnent we attack it/ They, however, 
whom experience had taught to wait the result of 
time, affirmed that it was unwise to despise an enemy 
whom we had not yet combatted ; that his fl'ght was 
calculated to duninish our force, and to deprive us of 
the means of recruiting it, by drawing" us further 
from our own country. * The Russians,' added 
these intelligent reasoners^ * derive their most pow- 
erful succours from their climate* Why should they 
seek to fight us when they know that the wmter will 
compel us to abandon all our conquests?' 

At last the Russians themselves explained the 
motives of their retreat, by the following- proclama- 
tion distributed on the borders of the Dwina : — 

* French Soldiers ! 

* You are forced to march to a new war. You 
are told that it is because the Russians do not render 
justice to your valour. No, comrades, they truly 
appreciate it. You will see it on the day of battle. 
Consider, that if it be necessary, army will succeed 
to army, and that you are four hundred leagues from 
your resources. Do not allow yourselves to be de- 
ceived by our first movements. You know the Rus- 
sians too well to suppose that they fly before you. 
In proper time they will accept the combat, and you 
will find it difiicult to retreat. We advise you as 
fellow-soldiers, to return in a body to your native 
country. Do not believe the perfidious sug'gestion 
that you are fighting for peace. You shed your 



62 WITEPSK. 

b1oo?l to gratify the insatiable ambition of a sovereign 
who <loes not wish for peace. He mig'ht have obtain- 
ed it long asj-o; but he sports with the bves of his brave 
subjects. Return to your homes, or if \ou wish it, 
seek an asyhim in Russia ; there you will forget the 
names of coiiscription, levies, bans, and arriere-hans, 
and that military tyranny which does not allow you 
for one minute to shake off the oppressive yoke.' 

This proclamation contained such palpable truths, 
that iis publication astonished every one. Some, 
bowevfr, regarded it as a forgery, and thought that 
it was written to prepare the way for that despicable 
answer of a French (jrenadiar, which would certainly 
have become a subject of pleasantry to the army, and 
of coisterant to foreigners, if we had not loug known 
that an implicit obedience to his chief is the first duty 
of asoidier; and that every Frenchman, faithful to his 
banners, esteemed it a point of honour strenuously to 
combat all those whom his commanders should rep- 
resent as the enemies of his country. 

Continuing our march we arrived at Kostenevitschi, 
a miserable little village, where, excepting the post- 
house and vicarage, there were only a few wretched 
barns covered with thatch The royal guard encamp- 
ed round the village, but the viceroy established his 
liead- quarters two leagues further on. 

The following day (July 17), after a march of 
five leagues over a tolerably good road, we reached 
the town of Dolghinow, the inhabitants of which con- 
sisted almost entnely of Jews, a circumstance by 



WITEPSK. 53 

which we were enabled to procure a few bottles of 
brandy. Our incessant marches, and the ioug pe- 
riod during" which we had been deprived of that 
liquor, induce me to mention a circomstaace avpa- 
renlly so insigniificant ; but, from the importance 
which we attached to it, the reader may judge of ihe 
extent of our vvaiits, and the difficulSy of suppiyiiig 
them. 

We proceeded thence to Dokzice, a distance of 
about seven leagues. That town the inhabitants of 
which were likewise Jews, contained a handsome 
square, near which stood a church, and a wreiched 
chateau, built of wood. The extremities of the town 
are situated on two eminences, between which runs 
a little marshy rivulet. On the day that we halted 
here we suddenly perceived a thick smoke arisino- 
behind the chateau in which the prince was quarter- 
ed. The flames soon spread on every side, and con- 
sumed in an instant several neighbouring- houses; but 
the soldiers rendering- the most timely and efficacious 
assistance, the fire was quickly subdued, and all our 
apprehensions vanished. 

Near Smorghoni we had left the road to Minsk 
and the Nieper, and had turned to the left, to ap- 
proach die Dwina, and to f How the movements of 
the centre of the grand army, which had taken that 
d'rection. General Sebastani, who commanded the 
adva iced-guard, assisted by the corps of the duke of 
Re rgio (Oudinot), repulsed the cossacks as fcir as 
Dro lia ; but the enemy, which was shut up in the 
intrenched camp, at Drissa, having- been informed 



64 s WITEPSK. 

that our cavalry was badfy guarded, threw a bridge 
over the river, and detached five thousand infantry 
and as many cavalry, commanded by general Koul- 
niew. An engagement soon commenced, and gene- 
ral Saintgeniez, being taken by surprise, was made 
prisoner, whi e the rest of the brigade did not escape 
without considerable loss. 

As we approached Berezina, where we intended to 
encamp that night, the road gradually descending, 
brought us unawares to the river of the same name, 
whfch runs through one of the most marshy plains in 
Europe. We were convinced of this when we arrived 
at the town, the houses of which extended in a long 
line over an absolute morass. Beyond Berezina the 
road is continued over a kind of turf, on which were 
placed a quantity of fir branches, to give some firmness 
to a mere bog. A few intervals were left for the wa- 
ters to drain off*. 

From the Berezina, as far as the Oula, the country 
Mas wet and marshy. The road from one river to the 
other forms a line of twenty or twenty-five leagues, 
passing continually through marshes and immense for- 
ests. Gtouboko^ was our first station, and Kamenthe 
second. The first of these towns is remarkable for a 
beautiful castle of wood ; and the latter, for a kind of 
mountain in the very centre of the place, which^^over- 
looks the plain. 

At Botscheikovo we approached the borders of 
the Oula (July '23d). This river it united to the Be- 
rezina by the canal of Lepel, which gives facility to 
the commerce of all the neighbouring provinces. 



WITEPSK. 65 

This canal is yet more important, as it forms a com- 
miiiiication between the Nieperand the Dwina; and 
thus uniting the Baltic and the Mediterranean, it en- 
livens the interior of Lithuania, and enriches her with 
productions of the most distant climes. The banks of 
this river are very high and steep. On the left side 
beyond the bridge, appears a magnificent chateau, 
which we thought the most beautiful that we had seen 
since our arrival in Poland. 

We could not, however, restrain our astonish-' 
ment at the rapidity with which we were allowed to 
proceed in our march without opposition. We ad- 
vanced daily without any impediment, and with al- 
most as much security as when we traversed Bavaria 
and Saxony. The tranquility in which our adver- 
saries permitted us to continue, was incomprehensi- 
ble, and every one formed the most opposite, and fre- 
quently the most erroneous conjectures. At Ka- 
men, however, we learned, from several officers, who 
had-been sent to Ouchatsch, where the emperor was, 
that the enemy, having quitted their trenches at 
Drissa, had ascended the Dwina, towards Polotsk 
and Witepsk, through fear of being cut off by our 
tjorps, which had taken a direction towards the latter 
town. The orders which they brought us, made us 
likewise believe that we should soon meet with con- 
siderable resistance. These conjectures were pre- 
sently changed into certainty when, on reconnoitring 
the mouth of the Oula, and the road to B6zenkovit- 
schi, we discovered that the cossacks hovered on our 
flanks. The viceroy immediateiy ordered the ad- 



5(> WlTKPSRc 

vanced-gaartl and the light cavahy, to proceed to B6= 
zeukovitschi, where the liussians were assembled in 
much force, under g'eneral Ostermau (July 23d). 

The prince soon afterwards mounted his h rse, 
accompanied by his aids-de-camp, and followed the 
mov ements of the advanced-oniard. When he arrsved 
at Bezenkovitschi, the enemy retreated, and crossed the 
Dwina Wilh his cavalry, and some pieces of artihery^ 
While we were in that town, the Russian sharp-shoot- 
ers, who were concealed in the houses of the village, 
Oil the opposite side of the river, kept up an incessant 
fire upon us. Cjlonel la Croix, wlso was passing 
down [he principal street leading to the river, received 
a shoi which broke his thigh. This accident produc- 
ed a paiaful sensation through the whole army. Every 
one pitied thiS worthy otficer, and lamented that we 
were deprived of his vaiu-ible services, by a fatality 
which frequently takes from the most deservi? :g all 
power to distinguish themselves. After having re- 
connoitred the position of the enemy the viceroy re- 
turned, forthe night, totlie castle of Botscheikovo. In 
the evening he had a long conference with general 
Dessoles, the chief of his staff, which made us presume 
that we shou'id march in the night ; but the order was 
not given till the following morning. 

(July 24ih.) After live hours' march, and cross- 
ing a smaii river, called Svelscha, our troops arrived 
at Bezenkovitschi. This little town was already 
filled with troops, particularly with the two divisions 
of cavalry under^ generals Bruy^rs and Saint Ger- 



WITEPSK. 57 

jM.ain, wlio had cotne by the way of Oula. This 
great mass of troops marching- towards Witepskj 
terrified not the enemy, who was separated from us 
by the Dwina. His cavalry proudly manoeuvred 
knd iired on our soldiers when they approached to 
seize the ferry-boat, which had been carried to the 
opposite shore. 

The viceroy, however, having resolved to cross 
the Dwina at this point, caused a battery of two pie- 
ces of cannon to be erected, to protect the sappers 
who had been ordered to construct a bridge, and the 
marines of the royal guard, who, plunging into the 
water, attempted to reach the boat. These gunSy 
and a few sharp-shooters placed on the shore, mti- 
midated the Russians so much, that they quitted 
the houses in which they had concealed themselves, 
and allowed us quietly to take back the boat, and to 
complete the bridge which the engineers were erect- 
ing. 

In the meantime a division of Bavarian cavalry, 
under general Preysing, having di&covered a ford 
about two hundred paces below the bridge, elFectedv 
trheir passage. Scarcely had they crossed the river, 
when they ranged themselves in order of battle, sup- 
ported by some companies of light troops, which 
had been sent over in the boat. In an instant they 
advanced to charge the enemy, who fled at their ap- 
proach, setting fire to every thing which he was 
compelled to leave behind. We particularly ad- 
mired, on that occasion, the manner in which thf^ 



58 WITEPSK. 

Bavarians advanced. The precision of their evolu- 
tions, and the skill wilh which they disposed their 
outposts, may be quoted as n»ode!s for those who 
nsay be called to execute similar manoeuvres. 

While we were contemplating' these operations, 
it was re; orled that the emperor was approaching". 
The courier who had brought the news was quickly 
followed by another, who confirmed it. Soon after- 
wards arrived the saddle-horses, the officers of ord- 
nance, and the generals of the guard ; in short, the 
town, already full of troops, presently became abso- 
lutely crowded. In the midst of this tumult Napo- 
leon appeared. He proceeded immediately to that 
part of the nver at which they were erecting the 
bridge. In a dry and sarcastic manner he blamed 
its construction, which was certainly very defective ; 
but, having determined to proceed to the other side, 
he crossed the bridge, and mounting his horse, join- 
ed the Bavarians, who had halted on the plain. 
Then marching with tiiem, he advanced nearly two 
leagues from Bezenkovitschi. Napoleon, doubtless, 
executed this mancFUvre wilh the view of attracting- 
the enemy's attention to this point, that he might 
find less opposition when he attacked Witepsk, on 
the opposite bank. He likewise hop^d to annoy the 
Russian army in its retreat,, which was now ascend- 
mg the Dtvina, after having abandoned the intrench- 
ed camp atDrissa. 

It is impossible to imagine the confusion which, 
reigned at Bezenkovitschi, and which increased on 
the arrival of the staff. Jn the night the tumult be- 



WITEPSK. 50 

came still more dreadful. The crowd of Iroops 
which flowed in from ail parts, and the quickness 
with which they were ordered to proceed, left no 
doubt that we were on the eve of a battle. The ca- 
valry, commanded by the king of Naples (Murat) 
formed the vanguard, and the fourth corps followed 
imiKiediately to support them. 

(July 25th.) Orders were given to march to 
Ostrowno ; and the staff was on the point of setting" 
out, when we heard a strono" cannonade. At this 
moment an aid-de-camp of general Delzons arrived 
in great haste to inform the viceroy (Eugene Beau- 
harnoisj that the enemy had been overtaken near 
Ostrowno, and that a vigorous engagement had just 
commenced* The aid-de-camp had scarcely finish- 
ed his report, when the noise of the cannon was re- 
doubled. His highness immediately commanded 
the baggage of the head-quarters to halt; and, accom- 
panied only by his staff, hastened to Ostrowno, 
where he joined the king of Naple;^, who had vvilh 
him the divisions of cavalry of Bruyeres, and Saint 
Germain, supported by the thirteenth division of in- 
fantry. But when they arrived at Soritza, the affair 
had already been successfully decided, Twewty 
pieces of cannon, which had fallen into our power, 
and the vast numbers of dead that were left on the 
field of battle, proved, both tli£ resistance of the 
conquered, and the valour of the seventh and eighth 
hussars, who had, on that occasion, covered them- 
selves with glory. 



m 



WITEPSK. 



It was three o'clock in the morning (Ju^y 26th) 
when the viceroy arrived at Ostrowno, with the 
king of Naples. The fourth corps were encamped 
near him, and the cavah'y, placed in front, watched 
the manoeuvres of the enemy. At six o'clock his 
m*ajesty and the prince, accompanied by their re- 
s^Dective staffs, marched towards the out-posts, <»and 
passing over the ground where the engagement had 
taken place the night before, they heard that Oster- 
mann's corps, consisting of two divisions, was drawn 
up in order of battle. The prince immediately or- 
dered the thiiieenth and fourteenth divisions to sup- 
port the cavalry commanded by the king of Naples. 
The hussars, who were sent out to reconnoitre, hav- 
ing met with much opposition at the entrance of a 
forest, returned with the intelligence that the enemy 
seemed determined to dispute our passage. We 
heard on all sides the fire of the sharp-shooters ; and 
tbt: cannon of the Russians, placed on the road, enfi- 
laded our columns which had advanced. General 
D nthouard ordered our artillery to be brought foi*- 
■ward without delay, and it was in this exchange of 
balls, that captain Ferrari of the eighth hussars, former- 
ly aid-de-camp to the prince of Neufchatel, had his leg 
shot off. Meanwhile, the king of Naples, hastening 
wherever his presence could be useful, ordered an 
attack to be made from our left, to disperse the 
enemy's cavalry, which occupied the extremity of a 
wood. But, notwithstanding this manoeuvre was^ 
well-planned, it had not the desired eifect. The de- 
tachment of hussars, intrusted with the execution of it» 



^VITEPSK. 6-1 

was too weak, and was soon compelled, though with- 
out loss, to retreat before the numerous squaorons 
who rushed on to the charge. 

While we were thus manoeuvring on our left, 
the Russians attem(3ted to force our right. The 
viceroy perceiving it, caused the thirteenth division to 
proceed towards that point, who advancing rapidly on 
the road, stopped he progress of the enemy ', and the 
artillery of our regiments, being advantageously plac- 
ed on some eminences, made us feel certain that our 
line could not be forced. 

Our right seemed well defended, when a si;ddeii 
attack was made, and dreadful cries were heard, 
both on the left, and in the centre. The enemy, 
advancing in great force, had vigorously pushed 
back our sharp-shooters, placed in the forest, and 
compelled the artillery to retire precipitately ; whik 
the Russian cavalry, profiting by a little plain on our 
left, furiously charged the Croats, and the 84th regi- 
ment. Happily, however, the king of Naples came 
up in time to check their progress. Tw/® battalions 
of the 106tb, which had been kept in reserve, sup- 
ported the Croats; while general Danthouard, in 
whom were united the most brilliant talents and un- 
daunted bravery, seconded by colonel Demay, and 
captain Bonardelle, reanimated the courage of the 
artillery, and, by skilful evoJutions, replaced them in 
the position which they had quitted but for a mo- 
ment. 

The affairs of the left and of the centie beins: re- 
established, the king of Naples and prince Eugene 



62 WITEPSK. 

proceeded to the right wing^, and put it in motion^ 
The enemy, lying in ambuscade before a forest, op- 
posed a vigorous resistance to the 92d regiment, 
which, notwithstanding its being placed on an advan- 
tageous eminence, remained inactive. The viceroy 
instantly despatched the adjutant-commandant Fores- 
tier, to urge them forward ; who, with some difficulty, 
succeeded in making them advance. Their march, 
however, appeared too slow to the impetuous valour 
of the duke of Abrantes (Junot). That intrepid ge- 
neral, who, in other campaigns had acted as comman- 
der-in-chief, hastily quitted the viceroy, and put him- 
self at the head of this regiment, on which every eye 
was now fixed. His presence, or rather his exam- 
ple, electrified every heart ; and the brave 92d, led 
on by general Roussel, marched instantly to the 
charge, overthrew every thing that opposed them, 
and penetrated at last into the forest, where the ene- 
my was protected by intrenchmeiits almost impreg- 
imble. 

On looking to the extremity of our right, we 
perceived a Russian column, which had been sent to 
turn our flanks, commencing its retreat. The king 
of Naples, with that enthusiasm which is peculiar to 
great minds, ordered the cavah'y to charge upon that 
column, and to Compel it to lay down its arms. The 
difiiculties of the ground made the soldiers hesitate 
for a moment ; but the king, perceiving at a glance, 
that the execution must be as prompt as the thought 
itself, drew his sword from its scabbard, and eagerly 
exclaimed, ^ Let the hravest follow me* This trait 



WITEPSK. ^ 

of hejoism filled us with admiration. All pressed 
forward to second him; but deep ravines and iiiipe- 
netrable thickets impeded our progress, and gave 
the enemy time to escape, and to rejoin the corps 
from which they had been detached. 

The success of the combat was certain ; but w« 
dared not venture to cross the extensive forest i efore 
us, on the other side of which were the hills of 
Witepsk, where we knew the forces of the enemy 
were encamped. While we were deliberating on 
the means of effecting that important passage, we 
heard a great tumult behind us. No one could 
guess the eause, and uneasiness was added to our 
curiosity ; but when we perceived Napoleon sur- 
rounded by a brilliarst suite, our fears were dissi- 
pated ; and the enthusiasm which his presence always 
excited, made us hope that he would add to the glo- 
ry of that eventful day. The king of Naples and the 
prince hastened to meet him, and informed him of 
the event ©f the engagement, and the measures which 
they had since adopted. But Napoleon, desirous to 
become more intimately acquainted with every cir- 
cumstance, quickly proceeded to the most advanced 
posts of our line, and viewed from an eminence, the 
position of the enemy, and the nature of the ground. 
His eye penetrated into the Russian camp. He 
guessed their plans, and immediately ordexed new 
dispositions, which being executed with precision 
and rapidity, the army was soon in the middle of the 
forest. We followed at a quick pace, and reached 
the hills of Witepsk as the day began to close. 



§4 WITEPSK. 

The thirteenth division, which assisted iii this 
manoeavre, experienced much resistance from the 
enemy in crossing the woods. He retired slowly, 
and disputed every step ; while his numerous sharp- 
shooters made us pay dearly for the ground which 
we had g-ained. It was in one of ihese unfortunate 
rencontre*, that a Russian drag-ooa, coming" up to 
general Roussel, fired at him with a pistol, and killed 
hail on the spot. As the Russiaiss seldom place 
drag-ooTis among their sharp shooters, it occasioned 
the report that general Rousse! had been murdere4 
by one of our own men ; but we were afterwards as- 
sured that we had not to reproach ourselves with the 
death of that brave general, wiio was truly worthy of 
our regret, both on account of his military qualities, 
and his private virtues. 

Broussier's division (the fourteenth) followed the 
great road, and arrived very late at the position 
which had been appointed for it between the road 
and the Dwina. Tne fifteenth division, and the Ita- 
lian guard, forming tiie rest of the infantry of the 
fourth corps, were left in reserve, a little behind the 
fourteenth. 

After the different corps had taken their respec- 
live positions, Napoleon established his head-quar- 
ters in the viUagfe of Koukoviatschi. The kino' of 
Naples and prince Eugene were encamped in an un- 
comfortable little chateau near the village of Do- 
br!Jka, surrounded! by the corps under their com* 
mand. 



WITEPSK* 6S 

On the following^ morning", at the dawn of day, 
(July 27th) onr troops marched towards Witepsk, 
The Russians, retiring", on that town, fired some 
cannon, which, however, d'd us little injury. They 
afterwards occupied a I rge plain near the town; 
which commanded the roads by which we could ap- 
proach. We coiild easily observe the lines of the 
enemy from the hill on which we were placed, and 
particularly his numerous cavalry, arranged in order 
of battle at the extremity of the plain. 

The division of Broussier, constitutinjj- the ad- 
vanced-guard, crossed, by means of a miserable 
bridge, the rivulet which separated us from the plain, 
and drew up on a height opposite tSie eminence, 
which was occupied by the Russians. The sixteenth 
regiment of chasseurs, having descended the hiil, was 
vigorously charged by several squadrons of the cos- 
sack-guard, and it would have exi^erienced a total 
defeat, if it had not been disengaged from the enemy, 
towards the left, by the light troops of the ninth reo-i- 
ment, commanded by captains Guyard aud Savary. 
These brave men attracted, on this occasion, the at- 
tention of the whole army, which, encamped on the 
surrounding heights, as on an amphitheatre, witnessed 
their exploits, and rendered them the applause that 
was justly due to their valour. 

The sixteenth chasseurs, retiring upon the four- 
teenth division, were protected by the o3d regiment, 
commanded by colonel Grosbon. That division 
formnig' a square, presenter! to the energy an impe- 
.9 



66 VVlTEPSK. 

netrable tVout, and all their repeated and furious at- 
templs to break it, proved inefifeclual. This circum- 
istance threw a little confusion into our ranks ; but 
Napoleon being at hand, it could not continue. 
Placed on an eminence, from which he could see all 
the manoeuvres, he calmly made every disposition 
which he thought was necessary to secure the victo- 
ry. He ordered a regiment of cavalry to retire, 
to open the passag-e of the bridge to the thirteenth 
division. This retrograde movement spread terror 
amongst our train, which was composed of work- 
men, sutlers, and victuallers, a class of people who 
are easily alarmed ; and who, always afraid of losing 
their booty, are rather prejudicial than useful to an 
army. 

The thirteenth division having' advanced, filed to 
the right. The viceroy marched at their head, and 
conducted them behind the fourteenth division, to an 
eminence which overlooked the plain on which the 
enemy was encamped. 

These heights, not being guarded, we advanced 
without difficulty, and took our position on the sum-^ 
mit, opposite the Russian camp, separated only by the 
river Loutchesa, the steep shores of which formed a 
ravine so deep, that it was impossible to come to a 
general action. We pretended, however, to com- 
mence the engagement by detaching some light 
troops, who succeeded in passing over the ravine, and 
established themselves in a little wood. But not 
being sup|.»orted, they proceeded no further, and re- 
turned to their corps, as soon as the fire of the batter 



WITEPSK. 67 

ries had ceased, and the divisions were no longer 
under arms. 

This suspension, when the armies were in sight 
of each other, excited universal astonishment, and 
everyone inquired, 'Where is the emperor ? What 
are his intentions ?' 

During- these discussions we were joined by tlie 
first corps, and the imperial guard. Some thought 
that Napoleon waited for the junction of all his forces, 
before he began a serious attack; others affirmed that 
marshal Ney, and the cavalry of general Montbrun, 
advancing from the other side of the Dwina, would 
turn the position at Witepsk, and tliusi cut off the re- 
treat of the Russians. But this manoeuvre was, doubt- 
less, impracticable, since it was not executed. 

On that night the troops bivouacked on the places 
where they had taken their positions, and the soldiers 
of the different coi^ps, mingling together, related to 
each other the share which then* respective divisions 
had borne in the honour of the day. From these ac- 
counts it appeared, that the combat, though glorious, 
had not been bloody. Amongst the small number 
Avho were killed, was the ingenious colonel Liedot, a 
man truly worthy of the corps to which he belonged. 
During the expedition to Egypt, he distinguished 
himself by his courage ; and m the construction of 
some forlilications in Italy, he proved that the mili- 
tary art is no obstacle to the developement of the most 
protound conceptions. 

The boldness with which the Russians retained 
their positions, and the junction of a great pail of 



68 WITITPSK. 

our troops at the same point, induced us to believe 
that a g-eneral action would take place on thefollow- 
ping- day. What was, thertfore, our astonishment, 
when we perceived at the dawn of day (July 28rh) 
that the enemy had effected his retreat! Our whole 
army went immediately in pursuit, except the impe- 
rial guard, which was established at Witepsk, where 
the emperor seemed inclined to remain. 

This town, the capital of the government of that 
name, situated on a plain between some rising ground 
and the shores of the Dwma, contaiised twenty thou- 
sand inhabitants, and presented, from the beauty of 
its situation a most delighllul aspect. Poland and 
Lithuania had, during more than two months, and 
through a space of more than three hundred leagues^ 
offered nothing to our view but deserted villages, and 
a ravaged country. Destruction seemed to precede 
our steps and in every direction the whole population 
■was seen flving at our approach, leaving their habita- 
tions to hordes of cossacks, who destroyed every 
thing which tl ey could not carry away. Having 
long experienced the most painful deprivations, we 
regarded with envious eyes, those well-built and ele- 
gant houses where peace and abundance seemed to 
dwell. But tiiat re{>ose which we had so eagerly an- 
ticipated, was again denied us, and we were compel- 
led to renew our pursuit of the Russians, leaving on 
our left this town, the object of our most ardetit wishes 
and our dearest hopes. 

As we followed the movement of the advanced- 
guard, we were astonished at perceiving the perfect 



WITEPSK. 09 

order with which count Barclay de Tolly had evacu- 
ated his position. We wandered in all directions 
over an inime se plain, without perceiving the faint- 
est trace ot hi ; retreat. Nut one carriage, not a sia- 
g\e dead horse, not even a solitary vehicle, indicated 
the road which the enemy had taken. While we 
remained in this uncertair.ty, which, perliaps, was 
without a parallel, colonel Klisli, scournig the neigh- 
bouring country to endeavour to lind some peasant, 
discovered a Russian soldier sleeping under a bush. 
This rencontre was extremely fortunate, and the 
viceroy profiting by it, questioned the prisoner, who 
gave us some information as to the route that th^ co- 
lumn to which he belonged had taken. 

The prince, doubting the accuracy of the intel- 
ligence, advanced to reconnoitre, but not having met 
with any thing worthy of attention, we returned at 
full speed towards the h'gh road which leads from 
Witepsk to the source of the Dvvina. The whole 
road was covered with cavalry. The kirig of Na- 
ples soon joined the viceroy, and afier some consulta- 
tion, they ordered their respective corps to proceed. 
The heat was excessive, and the clouds of dust rais- 
ed by the horses j'enderetl our march insupportably 
fatiguing. We were soon obliged to stop, and hailed 
at a church built of wood, vi'here the king of Naples 
and the prince had along co lerence together. 

The cavalry had filed off in pursuit of the liussiaii 
army, and we soon heard that they had come up wiih 
them. The rest of the troops immediately hastened 
their march and overlook the enemy. The Cossacks, 



70 WITEPSK. 

who formed the rear-guard retreated on the advance 
of our artillery, and only halted to fire a few cannon- 
shot whenever they found a favourable opportunity. 
They continued manoeuvring till they were beyond 
Aghaponovchi china, where our corps and the cavalry 
encamped. Near this village, on an eminence to- 
waids the left, was a wretched chateau built of wood, 
where the emperor (who, being informed that we had 
Overtaken the Russians, immediately left Witepsk to 
join us) established his quarters. 

Never did a bivouac present a more military ap- 
pearance than ours at Aghaponovchtchina. Napo- 
leon, the king of Naples, and the prince, were in one 
tent. The generals, placed in miserable huts which 
their soldiers had hastily constructed, were encamp- 
ed with their officers by the side of a rivulet, the 
miry water of which was preserved with the greatest 
care. During the three days that we had been on the 
field of battle, water and roots had constituted our 
only nourishment. Our divisions were encamped on 
the eminences which surrounded the chateau, and the 
enemy could see our numerous fires, the brilliant 
light of which dissipated the obscurity of the night. 

Early on the following morning (July 29lh) we 
again proceeded in search of the Russians. The 
emperor, however, returned to Witepsk, where he 
proposed to remain a suflficient time to execute his 
plans relative to Lithuania. When the king of Na- 
ples arrived at the separation of the roads of Jano- 
■witchi and Sourai, he left us, taking with him the 
whole heavy cavalry, and the fourteenth divisionV^ 



WITEPSK. 7 i 

The viceroy, still pursuing- his way, inarched towards 
the Dwina, followed by the thirteenth and fifteenth di- 
visions, the royal guard, and the brigade of light cav- 
alry commanded by general Yillasa. 

We were on the point of entering Soi;rai when we 
were informed by some chasseurs that an enemy's 
convoy, feebly escorted, was endeavouring to pass 
the river to arrive at the road to Weliki-luki. Th& 
viceroy immediately ordered his aid-de-camp, Deseve, 
to follow the chasseurs, and seize on the convoy. This 
order was fully executed : for, after two hours, the 
aid-de-camp returned with the intelligence that the 
convoy was ours. 

The town of Sourai, although entirely built of 
wood, was the best that we had seen. Its popula- 
tion, consisting chiefly of Jews, was considerable, 
and their industry procured us many comforts of 
which we stood in the greatest need. The maga- 
zines were tolerably filled, which was, in truth, a 
fortunate circumstance, for every thmg seemed to 
indicate that we should make some stay in this little 
town. 

Sourai, without being a military position, was a 
very important place. It is situated at the junction 
of the Cdsplia with the Dwina, and at the point 
where the high roads to Petersbargh and Moscow 
divide. These form two tetes-de-pont, which per^ 
fectly command the road to Witepsk. During our 
stay here several geographical engineers arrived, and 
executed some plans of the river, and the surro!indin*y 
country. 



72 VV-ITEPSK.. 

The tbirieentli division which had followed us^ 
was encamped about a leag-ne behind Hourai ; ;> part 
of the fifteer.th, and the foot-guard, were quarlere.! in 
the town. The horse-gnard, commanded by general 
Triaire, proceeded to the otl er side of the Dwina, 
and sent off a strong" detachment on he road to Wehki- 
hiki. During* that march, the adjutant of the palace, 
Boutarel, discovered that the road, as far as Ousviatj 
formed a continued defiie across the woods. In the 
immediate vicintty of that small town, the country was 
totally different, and the provisions which the dragoons 
brought from that expedition, proved that this neigh- 
bourhood oifered abundant resourc es for the canton- 
ment of the troops. 

On our arrival at Sonrai, the viceroy being in- 
formed that another Russian convoy, with a strong- 
escort had taken the road towards Yeliz, ordered 
Baron Banco, colonel ot the second ret^iment of Ita- 
lian chasseurs, to take with him two hundred chosen 
men, and proceed imme.lialeiy in pursuit. After 
nine hours' march, this detachment arrived at Veliz, 
just as the convoy was issuing from the town, and 
crossing the bridge over the Dwina. The chasseurs 
instantly charged the escort. Fwe times they were 
reunited by the infantry, and by numerous detach- 
ments of cavalry, much stronger than their own. 
But the bravery of the Italians triumphed at lenglh 
over the obstinate resistance of the Ciiemy, and they 
succeeded in taking ail the biigg^ge, and compelling 
five hundred Russians to lay down their arms. This 



WITEPSK. 73 

victory cost us some wounded men ; among' these 
were six officers, one of whom died of his wounds. 

While Napoleon was at Witepsk, endeavouring 
to organize Lithuania, and the centre of the army 
was inactive between the Nie per and the Dwina, we 
learned that the prince of Eckmuhl (Davoust) had 
been attacked at Mohilow. Bagration, profitmg by 
the leisure which the combat at Borisow had allow- 
ed him, crossed the Berezina at Bobruisk, and 
marched towards Novoi-Bickow. On the 23d July, 
three hundred cossacks attacked us, at the dawn of 
day, and took about a hundred prisoners from the 
third chasseurs, among whom was the colonel. An 
alarm was spread in our cam^j. The drum was beat, 
and our soldiers flew to arms. The Russian general 
Sicverse, with two chosen divisions, directed all the 
attacks. From eight in the morning until five in the 
evening the tiring continued on the skirts of the fo- 
rest and OB the bridge, which the Russians wished 
to force. At five o'clock the prince of Eckmuhl 
caused three chosen battalions to advance ; he placed 
himself at their head, overthrew the Russians, forced 
their position, aiid pursued them more'than a league. 
The loss must have been equal on both sides, but 
prince Bagration, satisfied with the feconnaisanee 
which he had made, retired on Bickow, where he 
crossed the Nieper and proceeded to Smolensko, at 
which place the tvi'o Russian armies were to form a 
junction. 

General Kamenski, with two divisions, endea- 
voured to join prince Bagration: but, being unable 

10 



74 WITEPSE.. 

to effect it, be returned to Wolhynia, and united him- 
self to the ninth and fifteenth divisions, formed by 
count Markoff, and then commanded by general 
Tormasow. These iouc divisions, forming a consi- 
derable armv, marched towards Kobrin, and attach- 
es themselves to the seventh corps. They surround- 
ed the Saxon general Klenge!, who had with hsm 
0:slv two regiments of infantry, and two squadrons 
of cnvalry. Obliged to yield to superior force, he 
did not surrender till after an obstinate combat, hop- 
ing to the last, that he might be reinforced by gene- 
ral Regnier ; but that othcer, though he advanced as 
rapidly as possible, did not arrive till the capitulation 
had been signed more than two hours. 

Notwithstanding we sustained these losses on our 
right, the successes of our left wing more than coun- 
terbalanced them. The duke of Tarentum, com- 
manding the Prussian corps, pushed forward several 
strong detachments on the road to Riga, and by the 
skilful dispositions of generals Grawert and Kieist, 
gained very signal advantages over the Russians. A 
few days afterwards, general Ricard took Dunahourg, 
which the enemy had abandoned, after having made 
great preparations for its defence. But the enterprise 
most glorious to our arms, was performed by the se- 
cond corps. The duke of Reggio (Oudinot) having 
pushed forward his advarkced-guard towards Sebei, 
met prince Wittgenstein, who having been previously 
reinforced by the corps of prince Repnin, furiously 
attacked him. The engagement took place near the 
castle Jakoubovo. The division of Legrand sus- 



wiTErsK. 75 

lained a severe engagement till ten o'clock at night, 
when, by the valour of the 26th light infantry, and 
the 56th of the line, the Russians were repulsed wilh 
considerable loss. Notwithstanding- this, they ven- 
tured on the morrow to Dttempt the passage ot the 
Dwina. The duke of Keggio (Oudinot) ordered 
general Castex not to oppose them. The enemy fell 
into the snare, and on the 1st of August, advancing 
towards Drissa, drew up in order of battle, facing 
the second corps. Fifteen thousand men, formit-g 
half of Wittgenstein's army, had crossed the river, 
when a masked battery of iorty pieces of cannon was 
opened upon them, and kept up a constant and de- 
structive fire for half an hour. At the same mo- 
ment, the division of Legrand advanced to the attack, 
and the enemy beginning to fall into confusion, the 
division of Yerdier made a furious and irresistible 
charge with fixed bayonets. The Russians were dri- 
ven into the river. Three thousand men, and four- 
teen pieces of cannon remained in our power. Par- 
suing their scattered troops on the road to Sebei, we 
counted two thousand dead, among whom was ge- 
neral Koulniew, a very distinguished officer of the 
light troops. 

At that time a rumour was spread, that the em- 
peror Alexander had been assassinated at Yeliki-luki 
by his courtiers, who were indignant at his offering 
to treat with us. It was asserted that JNapoleon had 
exultingly announced this as a positive fact at one of 
his audiences at Witepsk. We afterwards ascer- 
tained, that this false report had been circulated to 



76 WITEPSK. 

counteract the effect of the energetic proclamation 
which the emperor Alexander had issued to the Rus- 
sian people ; in which he had commanded every inlia- 
bitant of his immense empire to take arms against a 
perfidious enemy, who, after having* violated the 
boundaries of their country, was advancing to destroy 
their ancient capital, and to annihilate the glory of its il- 
lustrious founders. All these infamous falshoods com- 
pletely failed of success. They did not even reach a 
population, which, flying at the approach of the French 
army, could neither expeiience the effects of an arti- 
fice so mean, nor be corrupted by our flattering prom- 
ises. In truth, the object of every promise made by 
our deceitful chief was to delude and to betray ; it 
■was to kindle the most frightful discord, by exciting the 
people against the nobility ; and siifliug in their hearts 
that faithful attachment which was due to their lawful 
sovereign. 



( 



BOOK IIL 



SMOLENSKY 



After the battle of Yeliz, the viceroy feeiing' 
the necessity of reinforcing the detachment of chas- 
seurs that had been left there, reinforced them with 
the whole brigade of general Villata and with one 
battalion of Dalmatians. Yeliz, situated at the junc- 
tion of two principal roads, from Petersburgh and 
Smolensko, was exposed to the frequent attacks of 
the Cossacks ; it was also the extreme point to which 
the French army had penetrated. The population 
of this small town, consisting entirely of Jews, pro- 
cured us little more than enough to supply the abso- 
lute necessities of life. The environs contamed 
only a few miserable hovels. While the soldiers 
gave themselves up to the indulgeiicies which such 
circumstances could afford, colonel Banco, who per- 
fectly understood the Russian language, was inform- 
ed by some spies, that the enemy intended to attack 
the brigade. On receiving this intelligence, gene- 
ral Villata secretly made every proper disposition to 
re[)el the enemy, while he pubhcly affected to think 
himself in complete security. At daybreak the cos- 
sacks suddenly appeared before the town, hoping to 
find the garrison buried in sleep ; but the Dalma- 



78 SMOLENSKO, , 

lians, who were under arms, issuing' from their am- 
hiiscade, fired a well-directed volley on them, whjch 
did considerable execution. The enemy, frightened 
by this unexpected reception, immediately took to 
flight, and abandoned the hope of surprismg a town 
so bravely defended. The soldiers showed themselves 
on this occasion, worthy of the rewards which their 
former valour had procured them. 

The fourth corps, after resting ten days in the 
town of Sourai, marched on the 9th of August, to- 
wards Janowitschi, to join the fourteenth division. 
On the evejiing before this movement took place, 
colonel Labedoj^re, aid-de-camp to prince Eugene, 
was sent to the king of Naples. At his return from 
his mission, he confirmed the news of a desperate 
engagement having taken place between the enemy 
and our troops, under general Sebastiani, near In- 
kovo, in which we had been defeated with consider- 
able loss. The reports of the different officers agreed 
that our cavalry had severely suffered, and that, be- 
sides several pieces of cannon, a fine light company 
of the 24th infantry had been captured. It was like- 
wise said, that had it not been for the bravery of the 
Polish lancers, our losses would have been infinitely 
greater. On this occasion, some blamed general Se- 
bastiani ; but the greater part attributed the fault to 
general ^ontbrun, who disregarding the information 
he had received, and urged on by his natural bravery, 
had hazarded a battle against a much superior force of 
the enemy. 



SM01.ENSK0. 7§ 

The viceroy having halted on the 10th of Angnst 
at Janowitschi, the pioneers of the fourth corps, un- 
der the direction of general Poitevin, endeavoured to 
repair the bridge over the little river that passes 
through the town. It was, however, so completely 
out of condition, that they were obliged to abandon 
it, and the baggage and cavalry passed the river at a 
ford, where the bottom was very muddy, and the 
banks exceedingly steep. 

On our march towards Liozna, we crossed a 
plain gently undulated with little hillocks. We af- 
terwards passed several small woods, and a rivulet, 
that runs near a hamlet situated about half-way to the 
castle of Yelechkovitschi, where the army arrived 
on the Ilth of August, and the soldiers encamped on 
the heights which surround the chateau. The fol- 
lowing day the road was dreadfully miry, as far as 
Liozna, and leading through wet and marshy mea- 
dows, it presented almost insuperable obstacles to 
our convoys, and particularly to our artillery ; it is 
true, that two days before it had rained abundantly'. 
I should remark, that these were the only violeiit 
storms which we experienced ; for, during the rest of 
the campaign, we were very little incommoded by- 
rain. 

Near Liozna, a large and dirty village, we cross- 
ed (August the 12th) a wretched bridge thrown over a 
deep and winding river, which separates the town 
from the chateau, at the distance of three quarters of 
a mile towards the west, where prince Eugene had 
jestablished his cjuarters. But a communication wa« 



80 SMOLENSKO. 

establisbed by means of another bridge. Our troops 
availed themselves of the camp that had been form- 
€d by the duke of Elchingen's (Ney's) corps, and 
which was situated near this bridge, between ihe 
town and the chateau. 

Several obstacles arising from the nature of the 
country, prevented us from taking the direct road to 
Liouvavitschi ; and even the road which we pussued 
was not exempt from difficulties. We viere forced 
to pass through several defiles, and over many 
swampy meadows, and to cross roads which were 
cut through the middle of the forest. We arrived at 
last at Liouvavitschi, the approaches to which were 
as miry as the interior of Liozna. 

This town was composed of a great many 
wretched houses built entirely of wood. To ar- 
rive ihere, we crossed a ruinous bridge. The road 
was so dreadfully deep and clayey, that it was with 
the utmost difficulty the horses could proceed. 
These unwholesome marshes are the result of the 
situation of Liouvavitschi. Several rivers surround 
the town, and form extensive and dangerous mo- 
rasses, which never dry. 

As we entered Liouvavitschi, we saw all the ca- 
valry of the king of Naples returning from the envi- 
rons of Roudnia and Inkovo ; but, instead of following 
the road to flazasna, they turned to the left, to pass 
the Nieper at a higher point than that which had 
been marked out for us. 

The thirteenth and fourteenth divisions encamp- 
ed before the town ; the fifteenth remained on the 



SMOIrENSKO, 81 

heights which were to the left, with the cavah-y of 
the Italian guard; while the infantry of the same 
guard, being generally stationed at the head-quar- 
ters, encamped in the suburbs near the chateau occu- 
pied by the viceroy. 

The reunion of the whole army on the borders 
©f the Nieper, plainly announced the intention of 
crossing that river, and attacking Smolensko by the 
left bank, the fortified part of which city was on this 
side. The order .was, in fact, to go to Razasna, 
where bridges had been thrown across to facilitate the 
passage. 

Before our arrival at this river, we passed over 
an almost desert country. No village was to be seen 
on the road, and we rarely found any houses at 
which it was possible to stop. About half way on 
our route, was a dangerous marsh, where we were 
forced to leave part of our baggage. After many 
difficulties, we reached the Nieper, which is called 
also the Borysthenes by the Greeks, a name which 
excited in our minds the sublimest ideas. The illu- 
sion, however, was soon destroyed, when we saw a 
shallow and insignificant stream. The river is so 
narrow, and its banks so steep, that it was not seen 
till we were on its very brink ; while the very steep- 
ness of the banks renders the passage extremely dif~ 
ficult. 

Near Razasna, all the different corpus of the grand 
army, some coming from Orcha, and others from 
Babinovitschi, effected their junction. This im- 
11 



82 SMOLENSKO, 

iiiense crowd of men thronging" to the same pomi, 
while it angmented our privations, redoubled the 
confusion and disorder that reigned on the great 
road. The stragglers sought in vain to recover 
their proper regiments. They who were entrusted 
with the most important orders, coukl not fulfil their 
mission, so much were the roads encumbered. ~ 
Hence arose a dreadful tumult ou the bridges and in 
the defiles. 

The fourth corps having arrived (August the 
16th) at a small town called Liadoui ^remarkable as 
being the last place where we found any Jews), we 
crossed a little river very near it, above which is a 
considerable eminence which entirely commands the 
town. We continued our march as far as Siniaki, a 
miserable hamlet, consisting only of a few houses, 
and situated about two hundred yards from the road. 
The viceroy intending to encamp in this place, gave 
orders for the troops to halt. In the meantime, the 
other divisions of the grand army marched towards 
Smolensko, and the cannonade w^hich we heard made 
usp'esume that the town was vigorously attacked. . 

Tiie next day (August the Kith) we remained in 
the same position, anel during the whole of the day, 
great numbers of troops passed by us towards the 
city. Towards six o'clock in the evening we quitted 
Siniaki, and after three hours march arrived at Kras- 
noe, a small town, with some houses built of stone, 
and where the viceroy established his posts of com- 
munication. We did not, however, stop here, but 
continuing our march, crossed a small river near Ka-r 



* SMOLENSKO. 83 

iova, above which was a rising ground. The prince 
pitched his tent under a large avenue of trees sur- 
rounded by his division. At day break (August the 
17th) we continued our route, and bivouacked as 
before, three miles beyond the postot Korouitnia in 
a w^ood of birch-trees near a lake. Our camp offer- 
ed a most picturesque appearance. The viceroy 
having caused his tent to be pitched in the middle of 
the wood, the officers slept in their carriages, and 
those who liad uone, cut down branches of trees to 
construct little huts, whilst their comrades ligiited 
the fires to cook the provisions. As for the soldiers, 
some went on a foraging party, others washed their 
linen on the banks of a limpid stream, while the 
rest, after a long march, amused themselves in 
making war against the few ducks and geese that had 
escaped the rapacity of the cossacks. 

We here learned that Smolensko, after a long 
contested battle, had been set on fire by the Russi-Aus, 
and abandoned to their conquerors. This was an 
omen of mournful presage to us, and proved to 
what extremities they will proceed who are deter- 
mined not to bow to a foreign yoke. The next day 
we approached this unhappy town ; but the viceroy 
ordered us to halt in a wood, near the castle of ISo- 
voidwor, about three miles from the town, and went 
to join the emperor, 

1 was encamped with the whole of the fourth 
corps, in this thick forest, when one of my coiurades 
returning from Bmolensko detailed to me, in the tol- 



S4 SMOI.ENSKO. "^ 

lowing- words, the circumstances of the battle at 
•which he was present. 

' The position that we had occupied until the 
13th of this month, made the enemy suppose that 
we should attack Smolensko by the right bank of the 
Boryslhenes, but the emperor, by a prompt and un- 
expected manoeuvre, caused the whole of the army 
to pass to the opposite side. The same day the king 
of Naples (Murat) who still commanded the ad- 
vanced-guard, and supported by the duke of Elchin- 
gen (Ney) arrived at Krasnoe, and, as you know 
already,' said the officer to me, * g"ave batlie to the 
twenty-ftfth Russian division, amounting' to five thou- 
sand infantry, and two thousand cavalry. In this gal- 
lant affair we took several pieces of cannon, and some 
prisoners. Aiter this success, Napoleon, as early as 
the I6H1, in the morniiig, appeared before Smolens- 
ko. This town is surrounded by an ancient wall, 
with battlements of eight thousand yards in circum- 
ference, ten feet thick, and twenty-five high, and at 
certain distances, flanked with enormous towers in 
the form of bastions, the greater part of which were 
mounted with heavy pieces of cannon. 

* The Russians still expecting the attack to take 
place on the right bank of the Borysthenes, kept a 
considerable portion of their troops on that side of 
the river ; but when they saw us arrive by the left 
bank, they thought themselves turned, and retreated 
with the utmost rapidity to defend Smolensko, by 
the principal point at which we were about to attack 
them. They maintained themselves with the greater 



JSMOI.ENSKO. §5 

obstinacy, as Alexander, when he quitted the army, 
had recommended them to give battle in order to save 
Smolensko.* 

'After mploying- the 16th in reconnoitring the 
place and its environs, the emperor confided the left 
to the duke of E'chmgen (Ney) in clinino- towards 
the Borysthenes ; the prince of Eckmuhl (Davoust) 
had the centre ; ihe prince Ponivitowski the right; 
and further on was the cavalry of the king- of Naples; 
while the guard and ourselves constituting the fourth 
division composed the reserve. The eighth corps, 
under the command of the duke of Abrantes (Junot) 
was also expected ; but that general, making a false 
movement, lost his way.| 

* Half the day was passed in reconnoitring. The 
enemy occupied Smolensko with thirty thousand 
men, the rest were in reserve on the right bank, 
communicating by means of bridges, constructed 
below the town. But Napoleon, perceiving that the 
srarrison availed themselves of everv moment of time 
to strengthen their fortifications, ordered prince Po-, 
niatowski to advance, having on his left Smolensko, 
and on his right the Borysthenes. He recommend- 
ed him to construct some batteries to destroy the 
bridges, and by that means intercept the communi- 
cation between the tvFO banks. The prince of Eck- 
muhl (Davoust) who still Ivcpt the centre, attacked 
two intrenched suburbs, each defended by seven or 

* See the Thirteenth Bulletin, 
t See the Thirteenth Bull«tin, 



8% SMOLENSKO. 

mghi thousand infantry. General Friand finished the 
investiture of the place, taking his position between the. 
first division and the Poles. 

* Towards mid-day the light cavalry of general 
Bruy^res repulsed the Russian horse, and took 
possession of an eminence near the bridge. On that 
point was established a battery of sixty pieces of 
cannon, the fire of which was so well directed on 
the divisions of the enemy which remained on the 
other bank, that they were comoelled to retire. 
Against this battery were opposed two of the ene- 
my's consisting each of twenty pieces of cannon. 
The prince of JEckmuhl (Davoust) who was charged 
with the stormingof the town, confided the attack of 
the suburbs on the right, to general Morand ; and 
those on the left to general Gudin. After a severe 
fire of musketry, these two divisions forced the posi- 
tions of the enemy, and followed them with wonder- 
ful intrepidity, as far as the covered way, which they 
found strewed with dead. On the left, the duke of 
Elchingen (Ney) forced the intrenchments occupied 
by the Russians, and constrained them to take refuge 
in the town, in the towers, or on the ramparts, which 
they defended with obstinacy. General Barclay de 
Tolly, then perceiving that an assault on the town 
was likely to be attempted, reinforced it with two 
new divisions, and two regiments of infantry of the 
guard. The battle continued the whole of the night; 
but soon after the evening had commenced, thick 
columns of smoke were seen to rise from difierent 
quarters. As the darkness increased, the flames 



SMOLENS'KO. 87 

were distinctly observed spreading' with incredible 
rapidity in every direction. The whole city was 
soon on fire, and, in the middle of a fiiie summer's 
night, presented to our view the same spectacle that 
an eruption of Mount Yesuvius offers to the inhabit- 
ants of Naples. 

* At one o'clock the ruins of the town were aban- 
doned. Our first grenadiers prepared to mount the 
breach at two o'clock in the morning, when, to their 
great surprise, they approached without opposition, 
£tnd discovered that the place was entirely evacuated. 
We took possession of it, and found on the walls 
many pieces of cannon which the enemy could not 
take away. 

* Never,* said this officer to me, * can you form 
an adequate idea of the dreadful scene which the in- 
terior of Smolensko presented to my view, and never 
during the whole course of my life can I forget it. 
Every street, every square, was covered with the bo- 
dies of the Russians, dead or dying. The flames 
shed a horrible glare over them. Ah ! how much 
have those princes to answer for, who, merely to gra- 
tify their own ambition, expose their people to such 
calamities.' 

The next day (August 19th) we entered Smolen- 
sko, by the suburb that is built along the bank of the 
river. In every direction we marched o?er scatter- 
ed ruins and' dead bodies. Palaces, still burning-, 
offered to our sight only walls half destroyed by the 
flames, and, thick among the fragments were the 
blackened carcasses of the wretched inhabitants. 



88 ' SMOLENSKO. 

whom the fire had consumed. The few houses that 
remained, were completely filled by the soldiery, 
while at the door stood the miserable proprietor, 
without an assylum, dcjdoring the death of his chil- 
dren, and the loss of his fortune. The churches 
alone afforded some consolation to the unhappy vic- 
tims, who had no other sheUer. The cathedral, ce- 
lebrated through Europe, and held ia great veneration 
by the Russians, became the reliige of the unfortu- 
nate beings v^^ho had escaped the flames. In this 
church, aud ronnd its altars, were seen whole fami- 
lies extended on the ground. On one side was an 
old man, just expiring, and casting r. last look on the 
image of the saint vvhom he had all his life invoked 3 
on the other was an infant whose feeble cries the mo- 
ther, worn down withgr ef, waseudeavouring to hush, 
and while she n reseated it with the breast, her tears 
drojjped fast upon it. 

In the midst of this desolation, the passage of the 
army into the interior of the town, foimed a striking 
contrast. On one side was seen the abject submis- 
sio! of the conquered — on the other the pride attend- 
ant upon victory; the former had lost their all — the 
latter, rich with spoil, and ignorant of defeat, marched 
proudly oh to the sound of warlike music, inspiring 
the unhappy remains of a vanquished population with 
mmaled fear and admiration. . 

The grand bridge across the Nieper, which had 
been burnt, and that communicated with the other 
part of the town, in which there did not remain a 
Single house, was promptly repaired. In the mean=^ 



SMOLENSK©. 89 

lime the cavalry of general Grouchy, with the fourth 
corps, and all their artillery crossed a ford at the ex- 
tremity of the suburb by which we entered. In this 
interval the other bridg-es were constructed, which so 
accelerated the passage, that the same day the artil- 
lery and cavalry of the king of Naples were on the 
road to Moscow, in pursuit of the enemy. 

All the fourlh corps having succeeded in cross- 
ing the river, encamped on the heights that surround 
the town, near the post-road from Porietsch to Pe- 
tersburg. This was a position of the greatest im- 
portance, and every one was astonished that the ene- 
my had not defended it better. Had they made a 
stand here, our march would have been considerably 
retarded ; the prmcipal road to Moscow would have 
been cut off, nor could we have retained possession 
of the town, which this position completely com- 
manded. 

While the centre of the army pursued its trium- 
phant career, general Gouvion St. Cyr gained some 
important victories on the banks of the Dwina. 
After the battle of Drissa, prince Wittgenstein, being 
reinforced by twelve battalions, resolved to aot on 
the offensive against the duke of Reggio (Oudiuot), 
The latter, seeing himself on the point of being at- 
tacked, united the Bavarian corps (the sixteenth) to 
that which he already commanded. The engagement 
actually took place on the 16ih and l7th of August ; 
but at the moment the duke of Reggio was taking 
measures to repel it, a grape-shot struck him in the 
12 



m 



^MOLENSKO. 



sboulder. and so (lansrerously wounded him that he 
was compelied to quit the field of battle, and to give 
tip the command to g-eneral Gonvion St. Cyr. 

The latter disposed every thing- for the attack the 
next morning' at daybreak; and, the better to deceive 
the Russians, he ordered all ihe bag-g-age, and a g-reat 
part of the artillery and cavalry, to retire on the leffc 
bank of the Dwina, iu sight of the enemy, and, as- 
cending the river, to repass it at Polotsk without be- 
ing- seen. The enemy, deceived by this skilful ma- 
ncEUvre, believed that we were retreating, and ad- 
vanced in pursuit; but, instead of finding us disposed 
to quit the ground, we presented ourselves ranged in 
Older of battle, and our artillery, advantageously 
placed, commenced a destructive fire on them. At 
the same lime our infantry, under the protection of 
our cannon, attacked the left and centre of the corps 
commanded by general Wittgenstein. The two di- 
visions of generals Wrede and Koy, having combin- 
ed their movements with great bravery and skdl, 
iBaiched out of Spas together. The division of Le- 
grand, in position on the left of this village, was con- 
nected with that of general Yerdier, one of whose 
brigades observed the right of the enemy ; and the 
division of Merle covered the front of the town of 
Polotsk. 

The enemy, although surprised at seeing us s® 
well disponed, advanced with great resolution, con- 
fiding in their arlillery ; but, towards the evening, 
prince Wittgenstein, seeing his centre and his left 
forced, retired in echei«n^ alter furiously defending' 



SM'^LENSKO. 91 

every position. By this obstinate resistance he suc- 
ceeded in saving his army, which, notwithstaudnig 
the arrival of powerful reinforcements, endeavoured 
in vain to resume offensive operations. We should 
bave taken a great number of prisoners, had not the 
woods facilitated their escape. Those who fell iato 
our harids, had been left wounded on the lield of bat- 
tle, and by their numbers we were e^sabled to jutige 
of the severe loss which the Russians had sustained. 
Several pieces of cannon added to the trophies of this 
glorious day. 

In truth, this victory was dearly purchased by 
the loss of severa- brave I'iavarian officers, es;]ecialjy 
of generals de Roy and Sierisein. Tne first was par* 
ticuiariy regretted. The soldiers lost in him a father, 
aiid the officers, a ch-ef, whose talents and consum- 
mate experience were held in veneration bv the whole 
Bavarian army. Generals, officers, and soldiers, ri- 
valled each other in contributing to the success of the 
day. Among the first, Count Gouviou St. Cyr ren- 
dered a just tribute of praise to generals Legrandy 
Verdier (wounded). Merle, Von Wtede, and Aubry ; 
the latter, who was general of the artillery, particular- 
ly distinguished himself in his department. The count 
closed his rej'Ort by invoking the benevolence of the 
emperor towards hss officers. He thus did justice to 
all except to himself, on which point he observed a 
profound silence ; but his modesty was the more con- 
spicuous, and this virtue, which belongs only to great 
minds, was a few days aiterwards rewarded on tlie 
field of battle with a marshal's staff. 



92 SMOLENSKO. 

While our corps on the left g-ained these important 
victories ontheDwina; those of the centre distin- 
guished themselves in combats no less glorious. 

The duke of Elchingen TNey), having passed the 
JVieper (19th August) above Smolensko, joined the 
king of Naples in pursuit of the enemy. After march- 
ing a league, he met part of the rear-guard, consisting 
of six thousand men. Their position was carried in 
an instant, and the bayonet covered the field of battle 
with their dead. 

This corps, which protected the retreat of the Rus- 
sians, having been forced hastily to retire, took post 
on the rising ground of Valantina. The first line, 
however, was broken by the eighteenth regiment, and 
towards four o'clock m the afternoon, a fire of mus- 
ketry commenced with the whole rear-guard, then 
cons sting of fifteen thousand men. The duke of 
Abrantes (Junot), who had lost his way on the right of 
Smoiensko, could not reach the road to Moscow time 
enough to cut off the retreat of this rear-guard*. The 
first columns of the enemy therefore returned to the 
charge, and brought four divisions successively into 
the field. The Russians were the more interested in 
defending this position, as, besides its real strength, it 
had always been regarded as impregnable, from the 
defeats which the Poles had uniformly sustained here 
in their ancient wars. Thence the Russians, super- 
stitiously connected with this plain, the idea of certain 
victory, and decorated it with the pompous title of the 
Sacred Field. 

# See ISth and l^th bulletins of the campaign. 



jjMOLENSKo. 9S 

If the enemy attached the highest importance to the 
preservation of this }3osition, it was not of less moment 
for us to carry it, that we might be enabled more effec- 
tually to annoy his retreat, and to obtain possession of 
all the baggage, and the waggons with the wounded 
from Smoiensko, the evacuation of which had been 
protected by the rear-guard. 

At six o'clock in the evening the division of Gudin^ 
sent to support the thirteenth corps against the nume- 
rous troops which the enemy recalled to his succour^ 
appeared in column before the centre of the enemy's 
position. Supported by the division of Ledru, they 
instantly carried it. The seventh light infantry, the 
twelfth, twenty-first, and one hundred and twenty-se- 
venth, which composed the division of Gudin, charged 
with such impetuosity that the enemy immediately 
fled, persuaded they were engaged with the imperial 
guards. But so much bravery cost us the life of the 
gallant gevieral who commanded them. He was one 
of the most distinguished officers in the army, and was 
equally regretted for his private virtues, and his mili- 
tary? skdl and intrepidity. His death, however, was 
wed avenged. His division made a dreadful carnage 
of the enemy, who fled towards Moscow, leaving the 
Sacred Field covered with their dead. Among the 
rest were found the bodies '.>f generals Skalon and 
Baila ; and it was asserted that the general of caval- 
ry, Koff, being mortally wounded, was considered by 
the Russians as a loss equally great with that whicli 
we had to deplore. 



94 SMOI.ENSKO. 

At three o'clock on the morning' of the foilowinr 
day, the emperor distributed rewards on the field of 
battle to the regiments which had distinguished them- 
selves. To ilie one hundred and twenty-seventh, a 
nevs^ regiment, whch had contributed much to the 
glory of the day, Napoleon granted the right ot car- 
rying an eagie ; a privilege which they had not before 
enjoyed, because they had not been present in any en- 
gagement. These rewards, bestowed on a spot ren- 
dered famous by vie lory, and in the midst of the dymg 
and the dead, exhibited a scene of grandeur that 
assimilated our exploits to the heroic deeds of ancient 
times. 

At Smelensko, the fourth corps changed the chief 
of its staff. General Dessoles, who had till then til»ed 
that situation, disgusted to see his services remain 
unnoticed, desired to enjoy in retirement the esteem 
which his talents had procured him. The army, re- 
collecting that he had shared in the glory and the 
disgrace of Moreau, approved his determination, 
well knowing the difficulty which he would tind in 
obtaining a rank that could put him on a level with 
those who had outstepped him in his ca* eer, and who 
would always be preferred before him. The empe- 
ror, yielding to the entreaties of this skilful general, 
granted him an honourable retreat, and appointed 
baron Guilleminot his successor, who was well 
known to the viceroy, by having exercised the same 
functions lor a short time after the battle of VYa- 
gram. 



During the four days that Napoleon remained at 
Smolensko, he reviewed the different corps which 
had distinguished themselves since the opening- of the 
campaig^n. In tliis respect none was more justly en- 
titled to honourable distinction than the fourth corps. 
It was at ienglh granted us, and the chiefs of each 
division, with the exception of general Pino, who, 
with the fifteenth, was gone to Witepsk, received 
orders to put their soldiers under arms. (22d of 
August.) 

The whole of our army, in its best accoutre- 
ments, was drawn up on a vast plain, a little beyond 
that on which we were encamped. Its fine appear- 
ance, and, a!;ove all, the recoUection of the brilliatit 
affair of Witepsk, gained our corps the rewards due 
to its bravery, and vihich were worthy of the munifi* 
cence of the chief who deigoed to grant tbem. 

It had hitherto been believed, that Napoleon, de- 
sirous only to re-establish the kingdom of Poland, 
would terminate his conquests by the capture of the 
two towns of Witepsk and Smolensko, which, by 
their position, completely defended the narrow j)as- 
sage comprised between the Nieper and the Dwina. 
Every one considered these towns as our destined 
winter-quarters, and if the ambition of our chief had 
suffered him to limit the operations of this campaign 
to the taking of Riga, the fortifying of Witepsk and 
Smolensko;, and, more particularly, the organization 
of Poland, the whole of which he had now conquer- 
ed, he would, doubtless, in the foilowiig spring, have 
forced the Russains either to subscribe to his coadi- 



96 SMOLENSKO. 

tions, or to run the risk of the ahnost certaiii cle- 
slriiction both of Moscow and Petersbuj'of. But, in- 
stead of adopting" so wise a plan, Napoleon, biiisded 
by excess of prosperity, and at a distance of six ismi- 
dred leag-ues from France, with worn-out horses, and 
destitute of provisions, magazines, or hospitals, ven- 
tured upon the g-reat road to Moscow. As a last 
proof of his imprudence, he left in his rear a Rus- 
sian army, cantoned in Moldavia, and which was 
ready to march against us on the ratification of the 
treaty of peace, which had been already concluded 
with the Porte, 

This army having ceased hostilities against the 
Turks, was then commanded by admiral Tschika- 
koff, who constantly sent fresh troops to reinforce the 
army of Wolhynia, which was opposed to the corps 
of prince Schwartzenberg. Napoleon had flattered 
himself that the Austrians, in obedience to his or- 
ders, would have repulsed the corps of Tormasow, 
Eriel, and Essen, as effectually as we had beateu that 
of Barclay de Tolly, and that consequently, our al- 
lies ravaging the Ukrane, would penetrate into the 
governments of Kiew and Kaluga, and join us on 
our entry into Moscow. But the manoeuvres of the 
Russian generals frustrated this great plan. Yictors 
and vanquished, by turns, they defended every posi- 
tion ; and, taking advantage of the chances of war, 
returned continually to the ground which they had 
abandoned. The fortress of Bobruisk therefore con- 
tinued to hold out, and the Austrians never saw the 
banks of the Nieper. 



SMOLENSKO. 97 

Leaving Smolensko (23d August) we went to 
Volodimerowa, a village situated on the main road» 
On an eminence to the right, surrounded by marshes, 
is a chateau built of wood. Arrived on this height, 
at a distance of about five leagues from Smolensko 
we halted. It was then the intention of the prince to 
march to Doukhovchtchina, and afterwards to fall 
back on Doroghoboui, where the centre of the grand 
army was quartered ; but general Grouchy, who hud 
preceded us with hjs cavalry, announced that he had 
repulsed the enemy more than twenty leagues. The 
viceroy (24th August) who could now dispense with 
pushing on to Doukhovchtchina, determined to search 
for a path that would conduct him straight to the 
high road leading to Doroghot>oui. He found this 
route after following an excellent road, traced by the 
Russians themselves, in effecting their retreat. 

On this march we traversed a fertile and luxuri- 
ant country. We saw, for the first time in Russia, 
cattle grazing in the fields, inhabitants remaining un- 
disturbed in their villages, and houses that had not 
been plundered. The soldier, possessing abundance, 
forgot his fatigues, and regarded not the length of 
his march, which continued several hours. At 
length, towards the evening we arrived at Pologhi, a 
village at a small distance froai the road which we 
were seeking. On the following morning (25th of 
August) we crossed the Wop, a small river that 
would have attracted our attention more could we 
have foreseen how fatal it would one day prove to 
13 



9S SMOLE'NSEO. 

US. We might:, however, have forrtied an idea uf 
what it would be m winter, from the ciifficullv we 
foui d 111 passing it m the midst or so nun tr. Its bed 
was very deep, ajid the banks so Sfee|>, that the artil- 
lery crossed it with great difficulty, and onU' by 
doLibhng" the number of horses to each piece. 

Coatiiiuirig our route, we ag-aii) came jn sight of 
the Nitioer, wliose marshes covered with wood liear- 
ly reached the hill on which kiy the road we sought, 
Proceediiig about a league we perceived the high 
iurrels of the beatilul chateau of Zaz^ie, appearing 
at A distance hi^e a considei'able town. Close by 
was a lake, where the cavalry of general Grouchy 
refreshed themselves. They had arrived before us? 
and were encamped rouod the chateau o\ Znzttlc. 

The viceroy despatcl.ed some officers from this 
place to Napofeoii, who was at Doroghobou'i , but, 
although general Grouchy had pushed his advaticed- 
guard along the high road, we doubted whether it 
were cleared as far as thai town. The uids-de-camp, 
therefore, crossed the INie|)er below Zazcl6, and pur- 
suing the post-road from Smolensk©, they arrived 
safe at Doroghoboui, where the staff of the grand 
armv had established their head-qoarters. 

This town, sitoaied on an emicence, oltered a 
military position capable of eflectnaily stopping the 
progress of any army marchmgon the two high roads 
from Smolensko to Moscow. Yet, notwithstanding 
these advantages, it was very feebly defended owing' 
to the o-reat losses which the Russians had sustained 
ill the battles of Smolensko ami Yalontina. Gitr 



SMOIiENSKO. 99 

poi'ps was entering" Doroohoboui, when an aid-de- 
camp from Napoleon brought despatches to ihe vice- 
roy. Having- read them, the prince g-ave orders to 
select the most adv.mlao'eons sitiiaiioij in the neisfh- 
bonrhood to encauip his divisions. The waut of wa- 
ter having obliged us to jsush on to Mikailovskoe, we 
estabhshed ourselves near thss vdhige. The cavahy 
was in the rear, the Hi'aatry of the royal guard in the 
centre 3 and, on theiJanks, were the two French divi- 
sions, which forffied [j^rt of our corps. 

At a league from Mikailovskoe (27Lh August) 
we passed through twb villages, siluated in a marshy 
valley. Shortly after, we entered ihe plain through 
which runs the Nie[)er, and followed the road to 
Blaghov^, where we isstended to cross the river. On 
our right were some cultivated hitiS, with several 
villages. The smoke issuing irom the houses made 
lis conjecture that they had not been abandoned. We 
saw at a distance their pea^.;eab!e iiihabitunls standiiig 
on the summit of the hilis, anxiously ooserving 
whether v»'e came to trouble the peace of their cot- 
tages. 

The sources of the Nieper not being far distant, the 
river is here little larger than a brook. We forded it 
with ease, and the artdlery had no other difficulty than 
to climb its banks, v^hich, like all tiie rivers of Rus- 
sia, are extremely steep and high, to contain the 
great masses of water produced by the melting of 
the snow. 

The viceroy always present at the passage of a 
river, did not quit this till ail the troops Jiad crossed. 



100 SMOLENSKO, 

The fourth corps still forming the extreme point of 
the left of the grand army, we marched over almost 
unbeaten tracks. To prevent our wandering, the 
prince ordered general Triaire, commandmg the ad- 
vanced-guard, to post dragoons along the road. This 
Wise precaution proved beneficial to the detachments, 
and especially to the stragglers, who now, having no 
doubt which road they ought to pursue, arrived all 
safely at'Agopochina. Before this measure was 
adopted, these unhappy beings, when left in the rear 
from fatigue and sickness, found themselves in the 
midst of thick forests, or on immense plains inter- 
sected by numerous paths, all equally beaten, and 
not knowing the language of the country, nor meet- 
ing with a single person to direct them, they wander- 
ed about in these vast solitudes, and perished, sooner 
or later, by famine, fatigue, or the sword of the 
enemy. 

The village of Agopochina, where we halted, is 
remarkable for a large chaiemi, and a noble church 
built of stone. The four sides are ornamented with 
peristyles. The sanctuary, constructed according to 
the Greek ritual, is very rich, and adorned with se- 
veral paintings, which reminded us of those which 
the Greeks brought from Constantinople, when, in 
the fourteenth century, they first established their 
schools in Italy. From this village, the command- 
ant Sewlinge, who had lately joined our stafi^ was 
sent with important despatches to the king of Naples. 
The king not having received these despatches, and 
the commandant never returning, we felt the painful 



SMOI.ENSKO. 101 

conviction that he had fallen into the hands of the cos- 
sacks. 

The next day, (28th August) we continued to 
flank the left of the high road, marching always nearly 
in a line willi the corps of the centre. The track 
which we followed had never before been traversed 
by an army. It was narrow, cut by frequent ravines, 
and often so con racted, that it resembled a path, tra- 
ced merely to divide the grounds. Arrived at a vil- 
lage, the name of which was unknown, we found three 
roads; one straight before us, one on our right, and a 
third on our left. We followed the latter, which con- 
ducted us, after a march of three hours, to an aban- 
doned chateau, within a league of Bereski. 

Early in the morning (29th August) we left this 
chateau, in a thick fog". The frequent halts which the 
viceroy made, and the reconnoitring" parties which he 
sent to the right, as if to listen whether cannon were 
firing on the high road, convinced us that he was im- 
patient to know whether Napoleon met with any ob- 
stacles in his march. 

We approached Viazma. This small town, 
which, in Russia, may be reckoned a great one, was 
in a very advantageous situation for the enemy, be- 
ing situated among" the numerous branches of the 
river Viazma. It is surrounded by ravines, and 
stands on a beautiful eminence, commanding the 
plain and the defile, through which passes the high 
road from Smolensko. The Russians did not profit 
much by these advantages ; they but feebly defended 
the place, and, after a slight resistance, set fire to the 



102 SMOLENSK©, 

principal build-n^s and retired. When we arrived, 
Viazma was a prey to the flames ; and, although ac- 
customed to conflagrations, we could not helj> regard- 
ing", with pity, this unhappy town, so lately peopled by 
ten thousand inhabitants. Though newly founded, it 
contained more than sixteen churches. The houses, 
all new, and elegantly constructed, were enveloped in 
clouds of smoke, and their destruction excited greater 
regret, as they were the noblest which we had seen 
since we quitted Smolensko. 

The viceroy halted on the plain more than two 
hours. Placed on a rising ground we observed dis- 
tinctly the progress of the flames, and heard the guns 
iiriwg on ihe enemy beyoud the town. A numerous 
cavalry, which arrived from every quarter, encamped 
in ihe environs. Prmce Eugene, having received 
the emperor's orders, now passed the little river 
Viaznia, which runs by the town of ihe same name; 
and' proceeding to the left, he overtook the troops 
which he had sent i)efore hmi, and whose march had 
l)i?eD retarded by the passage of the Yiazma. We 
met with yet another branch of the Viazma, the ap- 
proach to which was so muddy, that it was impossi- 
ble to ford it at any point. It was therefore neces- 
sary to march along the bank till we found a wretch- 
ed bridge, by which we crossed the river. Hence we 
came to a little hill, from the top of which we per- 
ceived at a distance a beautiful chateau, consistusg 
i)f four pavilions, and a noble church. On ehtermg 
it, we learned that the village was called J^fovoe? and 



iSMOLENSKO. lOS 

that the c/i«^e«M had been pi aiidered by the light ca- 
valry. 

We halted in this village (30th Aiig-ust) having; 
on our left the royal guards, and the fourteenth divi- 
sion, with the thirteenth in front. The artillery of 
these divisions was placed in batteries facing the dif- 
ferent roads on which it was possible tliat the enemy 
niig'nt appear. 

As we commenced our march (31st August) we 
were rejoined by the Bavarian cavalry under geueral 
Preysiug. The viceroy and the staff accompanied 
us. We saw on the road two neat chateaux cotn- 
pletely ravaged. We baited at the second, and pass- 
ed through a delighifnl garden with beautiiul walks 
tastefully arranged. The pavilions had been newly 
decorated, but tiiey offered novv' an imag^e of tlie most 
frightful desolation. The furniture was broken to 
pieces ; fragments of the most precious china were 
scattered about the garden, and many exquisite 
paintings had been torn from their frames, and were 
dispersed by the winds. 

The viceroy had pushed his march beyond the 
chateau ofPakrovo; but observing that the infantry 
was far in the rear, he returned to the chateau in 
which some provisions were found, and especially a 
quantity of oats in the straw, and excellent forage. 

Since the affair at Witepsk, the fourth corps had 
not met the enemy, and had not even seen any 
of those detachments of cossacks which, in the first 
Polish campaign, continually harrassed our troopSj, 
a^nd intercepted the baggage ; but after we passed 



104 SMOLENSKO* 

Viazma, more circumspection was necessary on our 
march. 

Although the enemy had not presented himself, 
to observe our movements, we were nevertheless 
certain that he would soon appear ; and, the next day 
(1st September) being about half way on our accus- 
tomed march, our cavalry was sto ped by the cos- 
sacks. Two or three cannon-shots were the signal 
of this rencontre. The viceroy immediately put the 
cavalry of the Italian guards m order of battle, pre- 
ceded by a considerable number of sharp-shooters. 
These drove before them the enemy's squadrons, 
who retired in proportion as we adanced, without 
opposincr any resistance. They continued to retreat 
as far as Ghiat, of which the emperor had just taken 
possession. Above this town is a small river, which 
they crossed, and immediately, as if to observe us, 
drew up in order of battle on an eminence that com- 
mands the plain by which we arrived. The viceroy, 
after having made me reconnoitre the fords which 
might facilitate the passage of the river, ordered the 
Bavarian troops to cross it at a point that had been 
explored and which was exactly between two little 
villages, occupied by the cossacks. The enemy, 
however, no sooner perceived this movement, than 
they abandoned the villages and the heights, of which 
the Bavarian cavalry, followed H)y their artillery, soon 
took possession. Arrived on these heights, we saw 
the enemy flying on all sides. They were closely- 
pursued ^ but as night approached, our corps estab- 



SaiOLElSSKO. 105 

iished itself in the little village of Paulovo, at the dis- 
tance of half a league from Ghiat. 

The emperor having passed three days in this 
town, we halted likewise at Paulovo and Woremiewo 
(2d and 3d September). Here the emperor, in the 
general orders of the day, granted some repose to the 
troops, which he commanded them to employ in col- 
lecting provisions, in cleaning their arms, and pre- 
paring for the battle, which the enemy seemed willing 
to accept. Lastly, the marauding detachments were 
ordered to return on the following evening, if thev 
wished to participate in the honour of the engage- 
ment. 



14 



BOOK I\. 



THE MOSKWA. 



After the capture of Smolensko, the emperoi 
Napoleon was not ignorant that Russia, having con- 
cluded a peace with the Turks, would soon have the 
whole of the Moldavian army at her disposal : never- 
theless, he followed up his successes without dis=> 
quieting himself respecting the future. But the news 
which he received af Ghiat, that general Katusoffj 
the renowned conqueror of the Oitoman power, had 
arrived from the banks of the Danube, and taken the 
command of the Russian army, hitherto under the 
orders of count Barclay de Tolly, ought to have con- 
vinced him that he would soon be attacked. 

This 'general, who was regarded by the Mosco- 
vites as the hope of their country, arrived at Czar^vo- 
Saimiche, (29th August). The officers and soldiers 
hailed as their chief this venerable warrior, already 
celebrated in the annals of Russia ; and the inhabi-e 
tants of Ghiat informed us that the sight of him had 
inspired the army with hope and joy. In fact, he; 
had scarcely arrived, when he announced that the 
Russian army would retreat no further. That he 
might better defend Moscow, within four days march 
of which we were now arrived, he chose a strong po- 



108 THE MOSKWA. 

sition between Ghiat and Mojaisk, where he could 
advantageously awaif one of those decisive battles 
which often determine the fate of empires. Each 
party was sanguine in its expectation of victory. The 
Moscovites contended for their country, their homes, 
and their children. Our soldiers, accustomed to con- 
quer, and filled with those grand and heroic ideas, 
which continued success naturally inspires, eagerly de- 
manded the fight ; and such is the superiority that 
coirage gives over mere numbers, that on the eve of 
the battle we calcuiated what, on the morrow, would 
be the fruits of our approaching victory. 

During the stay of Napoleon at Ghiat, our head- 
quarters were transported from Paulovo to Wore- 
miewo, where was a beautiful seat, beiongmg to 
prince KutusofF. The staff had just entered the 
village, when the viceroy, accompanied by several 
officers, arrived to examine the environs of the place. 
Scarcely had he been gone a quarter of an hour, 
when he discovered that the whole plain was ^iled 
with cossacks, who advanced as if they would charge 
the group that surrounded the prince Eugene; but 
on seeing some dragoons, who formed his escort, they 
fled precipitately, and appeared no more in the neigh- 
bourhood of Woremiewo. 

While we remained in this village, some soldiers 
of the hundred and sixth legmient, gomg on a torag^ 
ing party, fell in with i\. post-chaise occupied by a 
Russian officer and surgeon ; the former on benig in^- 
terrogated by an officer of the staff, declared that he 
.«?{}me from Riga, his native country,, and w\is goings 



THE MOSKWA. 109 

to the head-quarters of Kutusoff, who had for some 
days superceded Barclay de Toliy. Although this 
officer was descended from a good Lavonian family, 
and was decorated with several crosses and medals, 
the viceroy would not see him, justly suspecting- that 
he had purposely exposed himself to discover our ma- 
noeuvres. Several peasants who were surprised on an 
unfrequented road, and particularly iii the neighl>our- 
hood of Mojaisk, where the enemy had intrenched 
themselves, almost reduced this suspicion to a cer- 
tauity. 

Having passed two days at Woremiewo, we left 
it on the 4th of September, and passed through some 
forests, where they informed us the cossacks had been 
seen. The reports of ihe advanced-guard conti* m- 
ing this news, caused the viceroy to halt in an exten- 
sive plam, where our whole corps was assembled. 
The prince, placing hiaiself at the head of the caval- 
ry, ordered the infantry to follow, while the guard, 
placed as a reserve, brought up the rear. In this 
order we advanced to meet the enemy. When we 
reached the little village of Louzos, we found our- 
selves impeded by a rivulet. The cossacks, who 
were assembled on the opposite side, appeared to be 
forming themselves into squadrons to oppose our pas- 
sage ; but the viceroy ordering the cavalry to mount 
the ravine, the Russians, fearing lest they should be 
charged in the rear, fled with precipitation. 

On gaining the heights, we discovered before us 
several villages on tire, and hearing a brisk cannon- 
ade, we imagined tli^t we were not far from the raad 



110 UTHE MOSKWA* 

which Nopoleon had taken. Near the post-house, ettU 
led Ghridneva, was another immense ravine thai cross- 
ed the main road ; and on the opposite side was a. 
steep hill, on which the Russians had established 
some batteries, after an obstinate engagement which 
had taken place there during the day. 

When the enemy perceived that the fourth corps 
was forming- on their right, they despatched a nume- 
rous cavaliy to reconnoitre our position, which re- 
tired when our artillery opened upon them. This 
cavalry appeared for a moment di.->;.osed to maintain 
itself on the edge of a wood j thevicerpv, therefore^ 
ordered coionei Ranibourgh, of tiiC third Italian chas- 
seurs, to march upon that pomt, and bruig ihem to 
action. The cossacks observed this movement 
without being intimidated ; and wheii the chasseurs 
were on the point of charging them, they ru.shed 
from the wood, crying * Houra ! houra !' — a cry, 
since become too celebrated, and which these bar- 
barians always use when they attack then* enemies. 
The Italian chasseurs received them with great cool- 
ness. The action was smart, but of no duration, for 
the cossacks seeing the Bavarian light-horse advance, 
quilted the tield, leaving Some prisoners in our pos- 
session. 

The Russians, nevertheless, maintained their po- 
sitions on the summit of the hill, whence they kept 
up a galling tire on us as we advanced. Several 
bullets fell among a group of officers who surround- 
ed llie prince. We succeeded, however, in passmg 
fhe ravuie in spite of ail opposition, and efieeied our 



THE MOSKWA. 1 1 1 

junction with the aiivanced-ofuard of the granrl armj> 
commanded by the kin^ of Naples. We distin- 
guished that monarch from afar by his white plun^e^ 
as stationed at tUe head of his troops, he animated 
them to the combat bv his own example. 

As soon as the viceroy was informed that the 
king of Naples was there, he went to concert with 
him the necessary dispositions. The place of their 
conference was not changed, and both of them dis- 
coursed with the utmost sang-froid, though exposed 
to the fire of the batteries, and seeing those around 
them falling every minute by the shot of the enemy. 

At the approach of night we returned to Loiizos, 
where we had no other shelter than some miserable 
barns, covered with thatch. Hunger redoubled our 
sufferings, and we had nothing to satisfy its cravings. 
The surroundnig hamlets, which had been sacked by 
the cossacks, could yield us no relief. At the same 
X\yne we were close to the intrenched camp of Mo- 
ja'isk, where KutusofF hoped to accomplish o«r 
defeat ; and this he would certainly have effected, if 
he could only have detained us a few days before his 
formidable lines. 

The position of Ghridneva, which the Russians 
had defended on the preceding evening, was evacu- 
ated during the night. The king of Naples, ardent 
^n pursuit [bth September) rapidly advanced. The 
fourth corps, which continued to flank the left wing 
(pfthe army, always kept at the distance of about a 
league from the main roadr On leaving a wood inr 
fe»led by the cossacks, we passed through a v;Uf?ge 



112 THE MOSfcWA. 

Ihat had been pillai^ed by these bafbanans„ The 
horrible desolation which marked their career ena-' 
bled us easilv to follow their steps. Beino- arrived 
at the foot of a hill, we discovered some of their 
sqeiadrois on the top, raui2^ed ia order of battle^ 
round a noble duite.au, which overlooked the neigh- 
bourin|>: plains. The viceroy immediately ordered 
the Bavarians to advance on this poiat, who, notwith- 
standing- the difficulties of the couniry, reached the 
summit in the g^reatest order. As our alhes advanc- 
ed, the enemy retired; and, as they descended the 
other side of the hill, our artiliery-me! directed upo» 
them the cannon which had been plaited on the ter- 
race of the chateau. We pursued them through the 
wood, and being- arrived at an open place, we saw 
long columns of Russians defiling, who, pursued by 
our troops, took up a position on an extensive plain 
at the summit of a hill about half a league distant, 
and where it was said, prince KutusofF intended to 
hazard a decisive battle. On our right, we saw, 
below us, the abbey of Kolotskoi. The massy 
towers of this building gave it the appearance of a 
town. The coloured tiles, with which it was cover- 
ed, reflected the rays of the sun through the thick 
dust caused by our immense cavalry, and served to 
heighten still more, the gloomy and savage aspect 
which the whole surrounding country presented. 
The Russians intendmg to arrest our progress here, 
had devastated in the most frightful manner, all the 
plain, on which we were forced to encamp. The 
c!orn, though yet green, had been cut, the woods des- 



l-HE MOSKWA. lis 

Iroyed, and the villaofes burnt. In a word, we found 
no food for onr horses, and no shelter for ourselves. 

We halted on a hill. During this time the cen- 
tre of the array vigorously pursued the enemy, and 
obhged them to recire upon the eminence which they 
had intrenched. We remained inactive till nearly 
two o'clock in the afternoon ; when the viceroy, fol- 
lowed only by his staff, reconnoitred the approaches 
to the Russian position. He had scarcely com* 
menced, when our dragoons, placed as sharp-shootersj 
announced the approach of Napoleon. Immediately 
the name of the emperor passed from mouth to 
inouth, and every one awaited his arrival with the 
greatest impatience. He soon made his appearance 
followed by his principal officers, and took his station 
on an eminence whence he could easily conmiand 
the whole camp of the enemy. After having long 
and attentively regarded their positiouj and carefull}'^ 
observed all the adjacent country, he began to hum 
some insignificant tune. He then conversed a mo- 
ment with the viceroy, and, mounting his horse, he 
went to consult the prince of Eckmuhl (Davoust). 

The viceroy now ordered the thirteenth and four-' 
teenth divisions to advance. The Italian guard, 
which had been left in the rear, was placed in re^ 
serve. These two divisions had scarcely reached 
the eminence whence they could attack the Russians, 
when a brisk fire of musketry commenced on our 
right between the sharp-shooters of Gerard's division 
(third division, first corps) and those of the eaemy. 
J5 



ii4 WME MOSKWA. 

At fi^'^t onr troops advanced close to the ravine wh'cils 
sepnraJed us from ihe enemy; bill soperior yumbers 
ob'ijred tl em to relire. 

The Russians had a redoubt towards the right 
exl. eouty of our array, ^he destructive fire of which 
c^sfried conslernatfon throug"h the ratiks. They had 
constructed d to t'ortifv their left ^ving■, which was 
the wenkesl part of their uitre ched camp. Napo'eon 
understood ihis, and saw the liecessity of taking ihat 
redoubt. This honour was confined to Compan*s 
division (fourth division, firs* corps) and these g-allant 
men advn?jced to the attack, with an intrepidity which 
ensured the success of the enterprise. lii this interval, 
prince Poniatowski mntioeuvred on our ri^ht with his 
cavah'y, in order to turn the position ; and when he 
was at a convenient distance, Compan's division at- 
tacked the redoubt, aiid succeeded in carrying it, after 
an hour's fighting. The enemy, completely routedji 
abandoned the neighbouring woods, and, retreating ia 
disorder towards She principal eminence, rejoined the 
centre of their army. 

The division of Compan, in proving itself wor- 
thy of the brilliant enterprise with which it was in- 
trusted, purchased that lionour with considerable loss. 
The acquisition of this important position cost us 
the lives of oue thousand two hundred of our men,, 
move tt an half of whom remained dead in the in- 
trenchments which they had so gloriously carried. 
The next morniijg, as Na )oleoM was reviewing the 
sixty -Mrst regiment which had suffered most, he ask- 



3'HE MOSKWA, 115' 

pi\ \he colonel what he had done wilh one of bis batta'- 
liofis : ♦ Sire,' replied he, * it is in ihe rtdouhf.' 

The possession of the redoubt did not in the leasl 
determine the succes;* of the bailie. Before the ge- 
neral engagement begauj Napoleou wished to gain a 
position on the other side of the river which sepa- 
rated us from the enemy. Ti ick underwood 
concealed their numerous siuirp-shooters, and ren- 
dered the approach as ditticuit as it was dan- 
gerous. But our courageous light troops recom- 
menced the attack with redoubled vigour ; an 1 al- 
though the day was nearly closed, the tire on both 
sides continued with equal fury. At the same tinies 
general villages on tire to the right, spread around a 
frightful glare. The cries of the combatants, aiid ihe 
ilames which were vomited from a thousand brazen 
mouths, and which carried every where desolation 
and death, completed the horrpr of the scei.e. Oiu- 
corps, ranged m order of battle, received with intre- 
pidity, the tire oi the enemy, and coolly closed the 
ranks, as soon as a cannon-ball had laid any of 
their comrades iow. 

In the meaiitinie, the night becoming more ob- 
scure, abated the hre without abating our ardour; for 
each, uncertain of his aim, thought it belter to re- 
serve his strength and his anmmtion tor the mor- 
row. Scarcely had we ceased firing, when the Rus- 
sians, encamped as it were on an amphitheatre, light- 
ed innumerable fires. The whole of tiien- camp was 
one uninterrupted blaze of light, which, while it 
presented a grand and sublime appearance, loimed a 



116 THE M<1SKWA. 

sh iking" contrast with our bivouac, where the soldiers, 
deprived oi uood, reposed in utie!" darkness, and heard 
no sound but the groans of the wounded. 

The viceroy caused h;s tent to be erected on the 
spot where the Itaiiaa guard were placed in reserve. 
Couched in the uoderwood, we slept soundly after 
the fatigues of the day, in spJe of an mipeiuous 
wind, and a rain excessively cold. Towants two 
o'clock, I was awakened by the chief of our staff, who 
informed me that the emperor wished for a plan of the 
ground which we hud occur^sed the preceding evening. 
I transmitied it to pn ce Eugene, who iminediatt:iy 
sent it to N;ipoieon. The next morning at day-break 
(<1lh of Scjitember,) the viceroy ordered me to com- 
plere the plan by inspecting the whole sine, and ap^ 
pro-acinng as near the enemy as I possibiy could, that 
1 might the better discover the exact nature of the 
grou d on which they were encamj-eii, and especially 
to observe whetljer iheve were any masked batteries, or 
ravines, unknown to us.'^ 

After these instructions, I edvanced, and disco- 
vered U at the Russian camp was situated behind the 
river Kologha, upon a narrow eminence, and that its 
left was very much weakened by the loss of the re- 
doubf, wi'ich we had taken the evening before. In 
front of the camp, and opposite to us, was the vil- 

« The plan, which will be found here, has been esgraved after 
ihmt wiiich ihe victiojr used on the day of battle. 



THE MOSKWA, 117 

iage of Borodino, an extremely strong position,"^ situ- 
. ated at the confluence of a little rivulet, with the Ko» 
logha. Upon this eminence were two g"rand redoubts, 
about two hundred toises from each other. That 
on the right had fired on us the evening before ; 
fchat on the left was ballt on the rums of a villas-e, 
which they had destroyed for that purpose. This 
redoubt communicated wjth Boi odir.o, by three bridges^ 
constructed upon the Koiogha. Thus, this village, 
and the rivulet which was in front, served the enemy 
for his first hne. 

Upon the extremity of our left, the Italipai cavalry 
had crossed the rivulet of Borodino ; but this vil- 
lage, placed on an eminence, was defeiided by a 
numerous corps of Russian troops. All this ground 
was exposed to the fire of their grand redoubts, as 
well as under that of several smaller masked batteries 
along the river. As for our right, they ki^ew that 
our success the evening before, had enabled us to 
«ross the Koiogha at this point, and to push forward 

* Napoleon said in his bulletin of the battle of Moskwa, 

* The viceroy, who formed our left, attacked aud took the vil- 
lage of Borodino, which the enemy couid not defend' Prhice 
Kutusoff. on the contrary, wrote to the emperor Alexander, 

* The position which 1 have chosen in the village of Borodino, 
is one of the best that can be I'sund in a fiat country. It is to 
be wished, that the French would attack us in this poslfiori ' We 
made the attack, and the village was so well defended, that ge- 
neral Plausanne, and colonel Demay, of the artillery^ ofScers of 
our corps, were killed in the commencement of the action. The 
Russians have given to this bloody day, the name of the Baiik of 
Borodino, 



ilS / *Hi: MOSKWA. 

the greater psrt of our troops to ihe re?»r of \he emir 
nence, on which was placed the euem}''s principal re* 
doubi. 

We passed the rest of the day in reconnoitring 
ihe position of the Russsans. General Dauthouard 
caused ihe redoubts, which were placed too much in 
the rear, to be reconstructed ; and on the left, lliCy 
likewise threw up some epa4iin[ieuts, where cannon 
might be placed in batter^'. In fact, ail was prepared 
for a decisive engagement, when, towards evening, 
the eoiperor sent a proclamation to the eliieis of the 
corps, with orders not to read ii to the soldiers till 
the next day, should they then come to act. on ; for 
aiihough the position was both advantageous and 
strong, the enemy had so olten declined giving bat- 
tle, that it was to be feared they wi uld again act as 
they had done at Witepsk, and Yaloiitina. Here, 
however, they were lor:ced to come to action, if they 
Mould save Moscow, from which we were distant 
biU tluee days' march., in addition to this, the ia- 
ligueof our soldiers, and the exhaustion of our horses, 
seemed to promise to the Russians an easy victory. 
On the other hand, v;e were well assured that we must 
either conquer or perish: and this idea iusinred us 
all with such courage, that in spite oi' the numbers of 
the Russian army, and their impreguabie mtrench- 
ments, we regarded our entrance inlo Moscow as cer- 
tain and near at hand. 

Although, worn out with fatigue, w-e felt the 
v»'ant of sleep ; there were many among us, so ena=- 
mGured of glory, and so flushed with the hope of 



THE MOSKWA. llf 

ibe morrow's success, that ihey were absolutely in- 
capable of repose. As they passed the wakeful 
hours, and the silence and darkness of midnight 
stole upon them, while the fires of the sleeping- sol- 
diers, now almost extinct, threw their last rays of 
light over the heaps of arms piled around, thev gave 
themselves up to profound meditation. They reflect- 
ed on the wonderful events of our strange expedi- 
tion ; they mused on the result of a battle which was 
to decide the fate of two powerful empires ; ibey 
Compared the sile'ice of the night with tlie tumult of 
the morrow : they fancied that <leath was now hover- 
ing over their crowded ranks, but the darkness of ibe 
night prevented them from distinguishing who would 
be the unhappy vi( tims : they then thought of iheh' 
parents, then* country ; and the uncertainty wiieihci' 
they should ever see these beloved objects again 
plunged them into the deepest melancholy. But 
suddenly, before day-break, the beat of the drum 
was heard, the officers cried to arms, the men eagerly 
nislied to their different stations, and all, in order for 
battle, awaited the signal for action. The colonels, 
placing themselves in the centre of their regiments 
ordered the trumpet lo sound, and every captain, sur- 
rounded by his company, read aloud the following 
proclamation : — 

* Soldiers, 

* This is the battle so niuch desired by you I 
The victory depends on yourselves. It is now ne- 
cessary to us. t Will giv© us abundance, good win- 



12§ TH^ MOSKWA, 

ier-qnariers, and r? prompt return to our ronntry! 
Behave as at Au^terlitz, at S'r ediarul, at Witepsk, at 
Smolensko, and let the lalesi posterity recount uith 
prjrie, your conduct on this day; let them say of 
you,—' He was at the great battle under the wails of 
Moscow." 

Every one was penetrated with the truths con- 
tained in lliese energ^etic v&ords, and replied to tl;eni 
by reiterated accSauiations. Some were anrnjated by 
the love of glory, others flaliered hy the hope of re- 
ward, but all were convinced, that imperious neces- 
sity compelled us to conquer or to die. To ihe senti- 
ment of seif-preservatiou, wde added ideas of duty 
and of valour. Every heart was anintiated, every 
breast proudly swelled, and each flattered himself that 
this important day might place him in the rank of 
those privileged men, who were born to excite the 
«Rvy of their cotemporaries, and the admiration of 
posterity. 

Such were the feeling's of the army, when a ra- 
dJerl siiu, bursting from the thickest tog", shone for 
the l;ist time on many of us. It is reported, that at 
lis Aiirhi, Napoleon exclaimed to those around him^ 
* 1 i^ere is the sun of Austerlitz.' The action was 
on t! f -^^.oint ot commencing-, the armies were in 
sl-il.l of each other, the cannoniers at their pieces, 
ai.d ail awaited in anxious silence the siot.al of 
attack. At last (7th Se^ ieiuber), at six o'clock pre» 
ciseiy, the firing of a cannon from our principal bat- 
ten', announced that we were engaged.* Imimedi- 

* See the plan of the field of battle.' 



THE MOSKVVA. 121 

ately our thirteenth division marched upon the vil- 
lage of Bqfo iioo, to which the enemy had ah'eady 
set fire. Oar troops the s cro>^-ed the rivulet, and 
arrived at the village. Orders had been given, ihaL 
they should confine themselves to the occupation of 
this position ; but, carried away by the enthusiasm 
natural to Frenchmen, they crossed the river Ko- 
logha, and took possession of one of the bridges 
which connected the -village with the eminence. It 
was then that general Plausanne, wishing to mode- 
rate the ardour of the soldiers of the one hundred 
and sixth, ran to the bridge to recall them, when a 
ball struck him in the middle of his body. Behoved 
dur ng bis life, his death was sincerely regretted. Ou 
this occasion the bravery of the niiiety-second regi- 
ment deserves the highest praise. Seeing thai, the 
one hundred and sixth had ventured too far, it cross- 
ed the bridge of Borodino, ai^d liastened to the suc- 
cour of that regiment, which, indeed, without its 
aid, must inevitably have been d. stroyed. 

While the thirteenth division possessed itself of 
Borodino, the fourteenth, crossing the Koiogha under 
the eminence, lodged itself in a ravine near the prin-r 
cipal redoubt, whence the enemy poured a horrible 
fire. On this day the viceroy, besides his ovi'n corps 
had under his orders the divisions of Gerard and 
Morand, forming the first and third of the first corps. 
At eight o'clock Morand's division, which had been 
alreacjy engaged,, and formed the right extreme of the 
fourth corpSj was warmly attacked at the rjioment 
1C> 



m 



i22 THE MOSKWA. 

that it was preparing- to march upon the redoobt, a 
movement which oug^ht to have been immedia*e]y 
seconded by Gerard's division. Nevertheless, \vhile 
general {\]orand sustained the efforts of the enemy's 
lines, he detached upon his left the 30th reg-imeut, to 
take possession of the redoubt. This position being- 
carried, our artillery crowned the heights, and seized 
the advantage which for more than two hours the 
Russians had had over us. The guns, to whose de- 
structive fire we had been exposed during the attack, 
were now turned against the enemy, and the battle 
Was lost to the Iliissians when they imagined that it 
was but just begun. Part of their artillery was taken, 
and the rest retreated to the rear. In this extremity, 
prince Knlusoif saw that every thing was lost. Yet 
determined to make one effort more, and to maintain 
the re[)utation which he had acquired by the service 
of half a century, he renewed the combat, and at- 
tacked with all his forces the strong positions he had 
jnst lost. Three hundred pieces of cannon, now ar- 
raaged on these heights, spread devastation and death 
among his ranks, and his disheartened soldiery pe- 
rished at the feet of those ramparts which they had 
themselves raised, and which they regarded as the 
bulwark of Moscow, their venerable and sacred city. 

The thirtieth regiment, attacked on every side 
was unable to keep the redoubt which it had carried, 
not being supported by the third division, scarcely 
yet drawn up in order of battle. This gallant regi- 
ment, commanded by general Bonami, was therefore 
constrained to yield io the superior force which over- 






^THE MOSKWA. 123 

whelmefl it, and rejoined its division with tlie loss of 
its g-eneral. That division, with general Gerard's, 
continued to maintain itself on the hill, and to with- 
stand the utmost efforts oF ihe Russians. 

The enemy, encouras^ed by the success he had 
just obtained, brought forward his reserve, with the 
hope of striking a decisive blow : it was partly com- 
posed of the imperial guard. With all his forces conr 
centrated, he attacked our centre, on which our right 
had now wheeled. For a moment we feared that our 
lines would have been broken, and that we should 
have lost the redoubt we had gained the preceding 
evening; but general Friand, coming up with twenty- 
four pieces of cannon, arrested their progress, mow- 
ing dowQ ranks at a time, who continued two hours 
exposed to a fire of grape-shot, neither daring to ad^ 
Vance, nor willing to recede. While they remained 
in this uncertainty, we profited by it to snatch from 
them a victory which they had considered as their 
own. 

The viceroy seized this decisive moment, and, 
flvinof to the ria^ht, ordered a simultaneous attack of 
the grand redoubt, by the first, third, and fourteenth 
divisions. Having arranged all three in order of bat- 
tle, these troops advanced with cool intrepidity. 
They approached even the intrenchments of the ene- 
my, when a sudden discharge of grape-shot from the 
whole of their artillery spread distruction and con- 
sternation through our ranks. Our troops were stag- 
gered at this fatal reception; but the prince knew 
how to reanimate their spirits, by calling to the re- 



# 



124 THE MOSKWA. 

collection of each reg-iment the circumstances iii 

•wh'ch they had formerly covered themselves with 

glory. To one he said, ' Preserve that courag'e 

which has g^ained you the title of Invincible;' to 

another, ' Remember, your reputation depends on 

this day ;' then, turning towards the ninth of the line, 

he said to them with emotion, * Brave soldiers, re- 

Kiember you* were with me at Wagram, when we 

broke the enen^y's centre.' By tliese words, and 

still more by his example, he iniiamed the valour of 

his troops to such a degree, that, shouting with joy, 

they again marched with ardour to the redoubt. His 

highness, riding along the line, arranged the attack 

With the utmost coolness, and led it himself, at the 

Lead of Broussier's division. At the same instant a 

division of cuirassiers, from the centre of the army, 

rushed oa the redoubt, and offered to our astoriished 

sig-ht, a grand and sublime spectacle.* The whole 

eminence, which overhung us, appeared in an mstant 

a mass of moving iron : the glitter of the anus, and 

the rays of {he sun, reflected from the hehiiets and 

cuirasses of the dragoons, mingled with the flames of 

the cannon, that on every side vomited forth death, 

gave to the redoubt the appearance of a volcano in the 

midst of the nrmy. 

The enemy's infantry, placed near this point, be= 
hind a ravine, kept up so destructive a fire on our 
cuirassiers, that ihey were obliged immadiately to 
retire. Our infantry took their place -, and, turning 

« See the plac of the field of baf (le. 



THE MOSKWA. 325 

the redoubt to the right and left, recommenced a furi- 
ous combat with the Russians, whose efforts rivalled 
our own. 

The viceroy and his staff, in spite of the enemy's 
tremendous fire, remained at the head of Broussier's 
division, followed by the thirteenth and thirtieth regi- 
ments. They advanced on the redoubt, and enter- 
ing it by the breast- work, massadted on their pieces, 
the cannoneers that served them. Prince Kutusoff, 
who had witnessed tliis attack, immediately ordered 
the cuirassiers of the guard to advance and endea- 
vour to retake the position. These were the best of 
their cavalry. The shock between their cuirassiers 
and ours was therefore terrible ; and one may jaSge 
of the fury with which both parties fought, when the 
enemy, in quitting the tield, left it completely cover- 
ed with dead. In the midst of this frightful encoun- 
tre,' ever glorious for the staff of the fourth corps, tlie 
young Saint Marcelin de Pontanes was wounded. 
He was one of the first who entered the r&doubt, and 
received a stroke from a sabre on \he nape of his 
neck. This wound procured him the cross of the 
legion of honour, bestowed on the field of battle — a 
recom.ense the more flattering to him, as he was only 
old enough to entertain the expectation of meriting it 
at some future period. 

The interior of the redoubt presented a horrid 
picture. The dead were heaped on one another. The 
feeble cries^of the wounded were scarcely heard amid 
the surrounding tumult. Arms of every description 
were scattered over the field of battle. The para- 



12G THE MOSKWA. 

pets, half demolished, had their embrasures entirely 
destroyed. Their places were distinguisl^ed oid}^ by 
the cannon, the greatest part of which were dis- 
mounted and separated from the broken carnages. 
In the midst of this scene of carnage, I discover- 
ed the body of a Russian cannoneer, decorated with 
three crosses. In one hand he held a broken sword, 
aitd with the other, firmiy grasped the carriage of the 
gun at which he had so valiantly fought. 

Ail the Russian soldiers in the redoubt chose ra- 
ther to perish than to yield. The general who com- 
manded them would have slsared their fate, if his va- 
lour had not preserved his lite. This brave soidier 
had sworn to die at his post, and he would have kept 
his oath. Seeing all his companions dead around 
him, he endeavoured to precipitate him.>~elf on our 
swords, and he would inevitably have met his death, 
had not the honour of taking such a prisoner arrest- 
ed the cruelty of the soldiers. Ihe viceroy received 
him with kitidness, and committed him to the care 
of colonel Asseiin, who conuucled him to the em- 
peror. 

The viceroy's attention had been entirely taken 
up by his centre, when it was recalled to his left by a 
grand movement oi cavalry directed by the enemy on 
that point. General Delzons, who, since the morn- 
ing, had been menaced by this cavalry, formed his 
iirst brigade into a square* on the leit of the BorodinOi. 
Several times he waij on the point ot being attacked ^ 

« See the plan of the 5eld of batti?. 



l-HE MOSKWA. 127 

but the enemy, seeincr that he could make no im- 
pression on him, advanced to the extremity of our 
left, and commenced a brisk attack on the Bavarian 
lijrht cavalry, which were for a moment thrown into 
disorder. The prince, who happened then to be at 
this point, threw himself into the middle of a square 
formed by the eig^hty-fourth, and prepared to set it 
in motion, when the cossacks were in their turn re» 
pulsed, and taking to flig-ht, disengaged our left. 
Every thing was then restored to the greatest order. 

The prince was found at all points, exhorting 
every officer to do his duty, and reminding him, that 
on this day depended the glory of France. He was 
seen at all the batteries, causing them to advance in 
proportion as the enemy gave way ; and, braving^ 
every peril, he himself i istructed the cannoneers 
how to direct their fire. It was thus that, hastening 
to every post of danger, from the beginning of the 
day, bis aid-de-camp, Maurice Mejean, received a 
wound in the thigh, and the eqierry, Bellisomi, had 
his horse killed under him. His highness having at 
onetime placed himself on the parapet of the grand 
redoubt, surrounded by his officers, he remarked 
from the embrasures all the movements of the enemy^ 
paying no attention to the bullets that passed him on 
all sides. Among the persons who composed hi» 
suite, was colonel de Bourmont, whose great merit 
was only equalled by his rare modesty. He had dis- 
mounted with the other officers, and was leaning on 
the pommel of the saddle, when general Guilleminol; 
totting a paper fall, the colonel stooped to pick it up..- 



128 THE MOSKWA. * 

That motion saved him his life; for at that very in^* 
stant a cannon-ball passed through the breast of his 
horse. 

During- this memorable day, the emperor remain- 
ed constantly in the rear of the centre ; and made, ou 
the extremity of his right, several grand manoeuvres 
with the Westphalians and the Poles to support the 
duke of Elchingen (Ney), in his repeated and despe- 
rate attempts to turn the position of the enemy. On 
this point the Russians obstinately withstood aU our 
efforts, and repulsed with considerable loss the West- 
phalians and the Poles. 

Although we had taken tvi'o redoubts, the enemy 
had still a third, situated on another eminence, and 
separated by a ravine. It was from thence that, es- 
tablishing some batteries well served, they kept up 
an incessant fire on 'Our regiments, some of which 
were sheltered by a wood, aisd others were behind 
the prand redonbL We remained, during several 
hours m this stat*^ of inaction ; the artillery alone vo- 
miting from every side flames and death At this 
penod general Houard was killed by a grape-shot, 
while commandiiig the second brigade of the thir- 
teenth division ; companion in arms 10 general Plan- 
sanne, they perished on the same day. United in 
tijeir lives, they^were not separated in death ; for they 
were bolh iiiterred on that field which had witnessed 
their gallantry. 

The fourth corps, which, since ten o'clock had 
sustained wilh intrepidity the attacks of the enemy, 
was nolrthe only one that had losses to deplore. Al- 



' THE MOSKWA. 12^ 

tiibug-li the battle was not vet conclndefl, there was 
hot a corj3s that had not to mdiirn the cJeath of one or 
inore of its chiefs, l should make too long- a digres- 
sion frbai my siibject were I to enumerate all the 
generals who purchased with their lives the success 
bf this bloody day ; biit there were some, who, by 
their courag-e and their virtue^ had gained the esteem 
«5f all the army« They excited that universal regard 
which bravie men alone can inspire* They were the 
subject of geueral o!)servatidn and applause, while 
living, and the circumstances of their death will be 
read with the liveliest infierest. Among these t 
buii^ht to include general Augustus Caulincpurt, who 
was killed as he entered the grand redoubt, at the 
head of the fifth cuirassiers. Cut down in the flow- 
er of his age, be had witnessed more combats than 
years. To the valour bf a soldter, be united the po- 
liteness of the gentleman. He was weil informedy 
polished, sprightly, noble, and generous. In shorty 
lie was endowed with all the qualities and all the vir- 
tues that should characterize the French soldier. Be= 
sides generals Plaiisanne and Houard, of whom I 
have just nov^' spoken, we had to deplore the loss of 
the generals of brigade, Compere and Marion, as well 
as general count Lepel, aid-de-camp to the king of 
Westphalia, not forgetting, above alU the just tribute 
of respect due to the memory of the intrepid Mont- 
brun. His undaunted intrepidity had long inspired 
us with a melancholy presentiment that such a war- 
yior must necessarily perish on the field of battle. A 
17 



130 THK MOSKWA* 

worthy successor of g-eneral T^assale, be died likd 
him ; and like him he was an honour to our lig^hl ca- 
vaIrN?. The number of generals wounded amounted 
to thirty, among- whom were the generals of division 
Grout hy, Rapp, Compans, Morand, Desaix, Lahous- 
saye, &c. 

Although the day was far advanced, the fate of 
many an unfortunate being was \et to be decie'ed. 
Thecaruion roared wsth unabated fury, aud contuuied 
to overvi'helm new victims. The viceroy, ever inde- 
fatigable, and unmindful of daiiger, was on every part 
of the field of battle, exposed to a shower of grape- 
shot and bullets. The firing still continued, and, in 
the evening, it was so briskly maintained, that the le- 
gion of the Vistula, commanded by general Clapa- 
rede, was forced to kneel down, behind the grand re- 
do bt. We remained more than an hour in this uncom- 
fortable position, when the pnnce of INeu'chatel (Ber=- 
thier) com'ug up, had an interview with the viceroy, 
which lasted till near dark. Their conference being 
ended^ prince Eugene issued different orders to his di- 
visions and the firing ceased. The enemy was then 
more quiet, and ouiy fired a few shot at intervals, 
while the silence of the last redoubt, gave us reason to 
believe that the Russians were preparing to rietreat on 
the road to Mojaisk. 

The weather, which had been very fine during 
the d:\y, became, towards evening, cold and damp. 
The whole army bivouacked on the ground it had 
gained. The viceroy, who, since four o'clock in the 
morning had not dismounted from his horse, took 




THE MOSKWA. 131 

the road behind the eaiirjence occupied by the royal 
guard, and where his highness expected to have 
found his tent erected ; but his people having- lost 
their way, he and his suite were uidebted to the hos- 
pitality of general Lecchi, who could only give us a 
supper withuut bread, and a tumbril for the bed on 
which the prince reposed. This encampment was 
most cruel ; neither men nor horses had any thing to 
eat, and the want of wood exposed us to all the ri- 
gour of a cold and frosty night. 

The next day (8th September), very early, we 
returijod to the li( Id of battle. What had been pre- 
dicted the preceding evening had actually taken 
place. The enemy, seeing the intrepidit)' with wh.ch 
we carried his redoubts, despaired of maintaining his 
position; and resolved to evacuate it during the 
night. As we passed over the ground which they 
had occupied, we were euable to judge of the im- 
mense loss that the Russians had sustained. In the 
space of a square league, amost every spot was co- 
vered with the kiUed or wounded. On many places 
the bursting of the sheiis had promiscuously heaped 
to^fether men and horses. Tiie fire of our howitzers 
had been so destructive that mountains of dead 
bodies were scattered over the plain ; and the few 
places that were not encumbered with the slain, were 
covered wjih broken lances, muskets, helmets, and 
cuirasses, or with grape-shot and bullets, as numer- 
ous as hailstones after a violent storm. But the most 
horrid spectacle was the interior oi the ravines; al- 
jviost all the wounded who were able to drag theav 



132 THj: MpSKWA. 

se'ves along, had taken refuge there to avoid lh§ 
shot. These miserable wretches, heaped one up^n 
another, and almost suffocated with blood, uttenng; 
the most dreadful groans, and invoking death with 
piercing cries, eagerly besought us to put rai end to 
their torments. 

While the cavalry pursued the enemy, the vice- 
roy ordered his engineers to destroy the redoubt; 
and as the fourth corps remamed encamped on the 
fieid of battle, it was presumed we should pass the 
night there. His highness had also ordered his suite 
to establish themselves in the church of Borodino, 
the o ly building that had escaped the flames, but it 
was filled with the wounded, and the surgeons were 
employed in dressing and amputating. The staff of 
the prince then determining to establish their quar- 
ters in the village of Novoe, near the road to Moja'isk 
on the banks of the Koiogha, were on the point of 
entering the castle, when some parties of cossack^ 
obliged them precipitately to retreat. 

In the meantime the viceroy being informed that 
the tifteenth division, returned from Witepsk, had at 
length, joined again their corps, received orders to 
advance. Arrived at the village, beiqw which was 
the redoubt abandoned by the enemy, we left, on th^ 
right, the high road of Mojaisk, which was pursued 
by the centre corps, and marched aloug the Koiogha. 
On this march we were convinced that it would have 
been impossible to have turned the right of the Rus- 
sians, on the preceding evening. They had not only 
Biany bodies of reserve on that side^ but iikswise s^- 



THE MOSKWA, 133 

yeral masked batteries along the river. Within half a 
league of lite village of Krasnoe, we found tour other 
great redoubts, in she form of a square, which defend- 
ed the road, and were not quite completed. 

Qoitting the field of battle, we left a detachment 
of alt the stragglers that could be collected, to defend 
the po-iition under liie orders of colonel Bourmont. 
This difficult task was j)erfectly accomplished by that 
officer, who, after destroying the enemy's works, re- 
joined us in a few days. During this time he lived 
in the midst of the rlead and the dyi;ig, and was oblig- 
ed to procure bis provisions at a distance of more than 
five leagues. 

Whilst we were preparing to encamp at the dm" 
teau of Krasnoe, a rumour was sprejid of the arrival 
of Napoleon. This news, however, was not confirm- 
ed. On a height before us, we heard oar sharp-shoot- 
ers engaged with the cossacks. la one of the charg- 
es of cavalry, colonel Marboeuf was wounded at the 
jhead of his regiment. 

The chateau of Krasiioe, and the village of this 
Dame, are situated near the Moskwa. Tiie follow- 
ing morning we crossed this river, and, on its left, 
prepared to attack Mojaisk ; but the viceroy, with his 
escort, advanced only to the suburbs. Here we saw 
this unhappy town enveloped in flames. The inha- 
bitants had fled, and our dragoons made only a few 
prisoners, fouMd in the houses on this side of the ri- 
ver. Several batteries, established on an eminence 
beyond Mojaisk, proved to us that we were masters 
pf it. In effect we learned that jj^apoleon had taken 



134 ^HE MOSK-VTA. 

it, after an obstinate eng-agement, and that the enemy 
in burning- the town had not abandoned it without 
making a brave defence, leaving the streets and 
squares filied with the dead and the dying. 

Oar staff examined the environs of Moja'isk, whea 
the fourth corps, moving lo the left, followed a high 
road, through a thick wood; beyond which we saw a 
considerable village, and, further on, we found a larg- 
er one, called Vedenskoe. 

On this delightful sjDOt was a chateau, the furniture 
of which corresponded with the beauty of the exterior; 
but in an instant it was entnely pillaged, without any 
' other advantage than some thousands of bottles of wine, 
which were seized by the soldiers. 

From Vedenskoe, turning to the right, we crossed 
a rivulet, close to a liltie village, and, pursuing a road 
through thick underwood and briars, we arrived at a 
village, called Vrouinkovo, wliere we understood the 
bead-quarters were to be established. On eutermg it, 
we perceived on an eminei.ce at a distance, some very 
neat houses, and four steeples elegantly constructed. 
We were about to halt in this village, where abundance 
seemed to reign, wlsen it was announced that the fourth 
corps was to proceed to a town of the name oi Rouza, 
the steeples oi which were plainly perceived. Leav- 
ing Yrouinkovo, we saw a great number of peasants 
with carts, loaded with their most valuable turniture 
and property* A sight so new excited our astonish- 
ment, and asking colonel Asseiin what could be the 
reason of this singular assemblage, he answered me j*^ 
follows :-— 



THE MOSKWAo li5 

* In proportion as our ariiiies advanced into the in<. 
terior, of Russia the em[»eror Alexander, seconding 
the wishes of the nobility, and following the example 
of Spain, endeavoured to make this a national wur. 
According-ly, the nobility and the priests have, by per- 
suasions and b) bribes, induced all the peasants who 
were dependent upon then, to rise en masso against us. 
Of all the districts which have adhered to this system 
of defence, that of Rouza has shown itself the most 
zealous. The whole population, animated by their 
seigneur, who had declared huuself the chief of the in- 
surrection, was properly organized, and ready to join 
the Russian army, as soon as they should receive the 
necessary orders. 

' As Rouza was at a distance of five or six leaoues 
from the high road, the inhabilants had flattered them- 
selvs that we should not pass through their town, and 
had consequently remained secure and tranqiiiL 
What was their surprise, or rather their terror,' con- 
tinued the colonel, * when I was sent by the viceroy, 
and presented myself with a dozen of Bavarian light 
horse before the town? The peasants^ dismayed^ 
rushed from their houses, hastily harnessed their horses 
to the carts which you now see, and fled with the ut^ 
most precipitation. 

* The men, however, who had been enrolled foi^ 
the levy, collected at the voice of their lord, and, 
armed with poles, lances, and scithes, assembled in 
the square, and immediately advanced towards us r, 
but this timid populace could not resist a few sol- 
diers accustomed to battle, and presently took tf> 



136 l^HE MOSKWA, 

flight. The chief alone evinced more firmness. He 
awaited us on the sqnare, and, armed with a poinard^ 
menaced ail who summoned him to surrender. — ' How 
ean 1 survive the dishonour of my country,^ cried he, 
foaming" with rage., * Our altars are no more ! Cur 
empire is disgraced ! Take my life, it is odious to me /' 
We wished to calm him, and ersdeavoiired to wrei.cli 
his poinard from him : but he became more furious, 
and wounded several of Our soldiers, who then listen- 
ing only to revengCj killed him with repeated stabs of 
the bayonet. 

* This was scarcely enected wh n the advanced- 
guard of the fourth corps entered Rouza. On my 
reciting what had happened,' contiiiiied the colonel, 
* they immediately pursued the peasants, \^ho had 
fled with their effects and their cattle. They soon 
came up with them, and those whom you see here^ 
are a \rdrt of the fugitives escaped from Rv>uza. ijo 
into the town,' added he, ' and you will see many 
more of them.' 

As we approached the town, we saw a great 
number of these carts brought back bv the dragoonSo 
it was an affecting spectacle to behold these veh cles 
loadeti with children and old people. The heart was 
pierced with grief to think how soon our soldiers 
woiikl divide among them the carts and horses which 
constituted the sole fortune of these disconsolate fa- 
milies. 

At length we entered Kouza ; and as we advanc- 
ed to the very centre of the town, we saw in every 
streetj a crowd of soldiers, who pillaged the houses|. 



THE MOSKWAi 137 

unmindful of the cries of the inhabitants, or the tears 
of the mothers, who, to soften the hearts of their con- 
querors, presented their children on their knees ; 
baihed in tears, and distractedly wringing their hands, 
these innocent creatures begged only for their lives. 
This rage for plunder was justified in some, who, 
dying with hunger, only sought after provisions ; but 
others, under this pretence, pillaged every thing, and 
even robbed the women and children of the very 
clothes which covered them. 

The viceroy had arrived several hours with his 
staff only. He had left the divisions of infantry and 
the royal guards, who to-day encamped in our rear, 
between Rouza and Yrouenkovo. Every one en- 
chanted to find himself in so delightful a town as 
Rouza, gave himself up to that security, or rathef 
the disorder, which abundance pruduces after long 
privations ; when suddenly some Bavarian light horse, 
who had been sent to reconnoitre, returned at full 
speed, reporting that several squadrons of cossacks 
were advancing towards the town. It would be diffi- 
cult to describe the sensation produced by this nev/s. 
The tranquility that we had enjoyed, opposed to the 
imminent danger which now threatened, produced a 
most sudden transition from the liveliest joy to the 
deepest despair. * The cossacks are here!' cried 
one ; * There they come /' cried another, quite aghast. 
* What can we oppose to them ?' we asked one an- 
other. * Nothing but some miserable soMiers, come 
hither to plunder the peasants' This was, however, 
18 



ibn T-HU MOSKWA. 

our only resource. They were iramediately assem-" 
bled in the square, but they were only about sixty in 
nornber, and half of them without arms. 

The viceroy, informed of the cause of this alarm, 
mounted his horse, and ordered his officers to follow 
him. We hastened out of the town, and entered the 
plain ; but what was our surprise, when, instead of 
finding- several squadrons, we only perceived about a 
dozen horsemen, and at so great a distance, that we 
could scarcely distinguish them. Some Bavarian 
lig^ht horse who were with us, advanced to recon- 
noitre, and reported that they were really cossacks : 
but by their small number, and timid and cautious 
march we could easily perceive that we had nothing 
to fear from them. 

As these cossacks might have been detached 
from a considerable corps, the prince thought it ne- 
cessary to cosifirm the order which he had already 
given for sqme troops to advance ; but he modified it 
so far as to content himself with two battalions in- 
stead of the who!e of the thirteenth division, which 
had at first been ordered. These two battalions en- 
camping before Rouza dissipated our fears. Every 
one now returned quietly to his lodgings, where a 
table well served, and excellent wines, made us soon 
forge' the alarm we had experienced towards the 
close of the day. 

The following day we remained at Rouza. The 
viceroy profised by this repose, to make the chief of 
his staff draw up a circumstantial report of the cele- 



th:^ moskwa, ISB- 

ferated battle of the 7th of September, in which tli® 
fourth corps had particularly distinguished itself. 

Whilst the thirteenth and fourteenth divisions laitl 
before the emperor their claims on his regard, the 
fifteenth division, not less deserving than the rest, but 
deprived of the honour of fio^htinii^ in the battle of the 
Moskwa, was likewise justly entitled to distinguished 
notice, in consideration of the numberless hardships 
which it had undergone in its expedition to WUepsk. 
This brave division, proceeding constantly thfough a 
marshy country, meeting only with deserted and rav- 
aged villages, was always compelled to bivouac dur- 
ing the night, and generally without provisions, and 
every day to make the most painful and harrassing 
marches to attack an enemy, which always fled at its 
appearance. For nearly twenty days it saw only the 
fields which we had completely laid waste; and at 
length, worn out with hunger, weariness, and dis- 
ease, this unfortunate division, which, with its chief, 
was worthy of a better fate, could not reach Bo- 
rodino, till the day after the battle. The fatigues 
which it had endured, and especially, the great 
losses it had sustained, obliged the viceroy to leave 
it in reserve. It was the highest proof of esteem 
which the prince could bestow, to unite them with the 
heroes of the royal guards, the greatest part of whom 
had been taken from this division. 

On quitting Rouza it was decided that this posi- 
tion, so important on account of the abundance of 
provisions which were still to be found there, should 
be maintained. The castle, situated on a small emir 



140 THE MOSK\VA. 

nence, surrounded with ditches, afforded a sufficient 
defence for the garrison, and guarded them against a 
coMjt? de main. This honourable command was given 
to captain Maison Neuve, who proved himself worthy 
of the confidence reposed in him. As long as the po- 
sition was retained, this brave and intelligent officer 
rendered himself useful to the army by the skilfulness 
of his dispositions, and by the ease with which he ap- 
peared to comprehend every intention of the enemy. 



K Y. 



MOSCOW. 



After the battle of the Moskwa, our triumph- 
ant army marched in three columns towards the ca- 
pital of the Russian empire. Napoleon, impatient to 
get possession of it, pursued the enemy with his ac- 
customed vigour, on the high road of Smolensko ; 
while prince Poniatowski, at the head of the fifth 
corps, marched on the right, by way of Kaluga. The 
viceroy, commanding the fourth corps, continued on 
the left flank, and, taking the road of Zwenighorod, 
proceeded towards Moscow, where the whole army 
was to assemble. 

We could judge of the consternation which reign- 
ed in this capital, by the terror with which we inspir- 
ed the country people. Our arrival in Rouza (9th of 
September) and the cruel manner in which we bad 
treated the inhabitants, were no sooner known, than 
all the villages on the road lo Moscow, were instantly 
abandoned. The country presented one uniform 
scene of horrible desolation : for most of those who 
fled, burnt, in despair, their houses, their chateauXy 
and the grain and forage, which were scarcely gather- 
ed. All these unhappy bemgs, terrified by the fatal 



i42 ftioscow. 

and useless resistance of the inhabitants of Rouzaj 
threw away the pikes with, which they had been 
armed, and swiftly fled to conceal their wives and 
their little ones in the thick forests at a distance from 
our route. 

On approaching Moscow, we had hoped that ci- 
vilization, which enervates the soul, and especially an 
attachment to pro[iierty, so natural to the inhabitants 
of large towns, would have induced the people i.ot to 
quit their habitations. We were convinced that the 
rapacity of our soldiers was principally excited by 
the deserted state in which we found the villages. 
But the country around Moscow does not belong to 
the iidiabitants of that beautiful city ; it was the pro- 
perty of the lords who had declared against us, and 
their peasants, equally enslaved and oppressed with 
those of the Nieperand of the Volga, obeyed the or- 
ders of their masters. They had been enjoined, on 
pain of death, to fly at our approach, and to hide in 
the woods, whatever could be useful to us. 

We perceived ihe execution of this fatal measure, 
on entering the village of Apaichtchouina. The 
houses deserted, the castle abandoned, the furniture 
dashed to pieces, and the provisions destroyed, pre- 
sented a spectacle of the most frightful desolation* 
All these ravages showed us what sacrifices a people 
^sufficiently magnanimous to prefer independence to 
riches, will cheerfully make. 

Near Karinskoe, a village halfway towards Zwe- 
oighorod, whither we were marching, the cossacl^ 
appeared. According to their custom, they made^na 



MOSCOW^ 1413' 

stand ag-ainst our advanced-guard, but contented 
themselves with observing- us, by marching on an. 
Eminence at our left, parallel to the high road. On 
the summit of this height, in the midst of a thick 
wood of birch, rose the gray walls and the steeples 
of an ancient abbey. At the foot of the hill stood 
the little town of Zwenighororl, built on the banks of 
the Moskwa. On thss point the cossacks formed 
themselves into several bodies, and skirmished for 
some time with our light troops, but they were gra- 
dually dislodged from their ambuscades, and we took 
post around Zweniohorod. 

The ahbey situated above this little town, com- 
mands the course of the Moskwa. Its embattled 
wails, more than twenty feet in height, and between 
five a>id six feet thick, are flanked by four great 
towers, with embrasures. This editice, constructed 
in the thirteenth or fourteenth century, reminds us of 
the tunes, when the Muscovites, filled with venera- 
tion for their priests, suffered the sacerdotal authority 
to take precedence of that of the nobles; and when 
the Czar marched, on days of ceremony, before the 
patri u'ch of Moscow, holding the bridle of his horse. 
But these monks, so powerful and so formidable be- 
fore the time of Peter I, were brought back again to 
the simplicity of the apostles, when this great mo- 
Barch, on founding his empire, confiscated their pro- 
perty and diminished their number. 
^ To conceive a proper idea of the changes pro- 
educed by this reform, it was sufficient to enter the 
abbey of Zwenighorod. At the sight of these lofty 



144 :moscow. 

towers and enormous walls, we supposed that the 
interior contained an ag-reeab!e and commodious re- 
sidence, and that we should find among these monks 
the wonted abundance of all richly-endowed abbeys. 
A large iron gate, strongly barricadoed, confirmed us 
in the persuasion that this convent was well supp; ed 
with every thing that our soldiers needed. We were 
about to force the entry, when an old man, whose flow- 
ing beard was whiter than his robe, came to admit us. 
He was desired to conduct us to the abbot. On en- 
tering the court, we were much surprised at finding 
that this vast edifice did not correspond with the high 
opinion we had conceived of it ; and that our guide 
instead of introducing us into the apartments of the 
superior, conducted us to a small chapel, where we 
saw four monks prostrate at the foot of an altar, con- 
structed in the Grecian style. These venerable old 
men, when they perceived us, threw themselves at 
our feet, and, embracing our knees, entreated, in the 
name of the God whom they adored, that we wotdd 
respect their church, and the graves of some bishops, 
of which they were the faithful guardians. * You 
may judge, by our miserable appearance,' they ad- 
dressed us by means of an interpreter, 'that we can 
have no hidden treasures ; and our food is so coarse, 
that many of your soldiers would scorn to eat it. 
VYe have no other possessions than our relics and 
our alters. Deign to respect them from a reverence 
for a relis'ion so similar to vour own.' This we 
promised, and our assurance was confirmed on the 



MOSCOW. 145 

arrival of the viceroy, who established his head-quar- 
ters in this abbey, and thereby preserved the church 
and the convent, from the pillage with which they 
were threatened. 

While this asylum, formerly so peaceful, was a 
prey to the tumult unavoidable on such occasions, I 
perceived one of these pious monks, who, to conceal 
himself, took refuge in a cell almost under ground, 
the simplicity of which presented nothing to excite 
our avarice. This friar, sensible of my attentions to 
him, rewarded them by acknowledging that he spoke- 
French, and that he wished to have the pleasure of 
conversmg with me. Charmed vtith his candour, I 
profited by it, to inform myself of every thing relat- 
ing to the sentiments and character of a nation, from 
whom we had conquered more than two hundred 
and fifty leagues of territory, without becoming ac- 
quainted with them. When I mentioned Moscow, 
he told me that it was the place of his nativity, atid I 
perceived that deep sighs interrupted ins speech. I 
judged by his silent grief that he mourned over the 
misfortunes to which this great capital would soon 
be exposed. I sympathized with him ; but, anxious 
to'know the state of affairs in that city which we were 
on the point of entering, I ventured at length to ask 
him concerning' it. 

* The French have entered the territory of Rus- 
sia with immense force,' said this venerable monk ; 
* they come to ravage our beloved country, and they 
advance even to the sacred city— the centre of our 
*?mpire, and the source of our prosperity, Unac- 
19 



146 MOSCOW. 

quainted with our manners and our character, they 
think that we shall bend under their yoke, and that, 
compel'ed to choose between our homes and our in- 
dependence, we shall, like too many others, submit 
to their dominion, and renounce that naSional pride 
in which consists the true power of a people. No, 
Napoleon is mistaken. We are too wise not to abhor 
his tyranny ; and we are not sufficiently corrupted to 
prefer slaverv to liberty. In vain he hopes to force 
us, by his nuntberless armies, to sue for peace. He 
do«'s not remember that the population of Russia is 
at the absolute control of the nobility. Our seig- 
neurs, able at their pleasure to cause whole districts 
to emigrate, will order their peasants to fly into the 
deserts, at the approach of the invader, or, if neces- 
sary, willdestro. every town and village, rather than 
give them up to a true barbarian, whose tyranny is 
more dreadful to us than death itself. 

' We are aware, too,' added he, ' that Napoleon 
relies much on the dissensions which used formerly 
to exist between the monarch and the nobles } but 
the love of our country has stifled every ancient feud. 
He flatters hi nseif, likewise, that he will be able to 
arm the people against the great. Vain efforts ! the 
people are, from religion, obedient to their masters ; 
nor will they confide in the deceitful promises of 
him v^ho burns their cottages, murders their chil-, 
dren, devastates their country, and subverts their 
temples. Besides, has not the whole oi Europe 
witnessed the most striking instances of his per- 
fidy ? Is he not the scourge of Germany, of whom 
he proiessed to b© the protector? Spain, to0;» 



MOSCOW. 147 

liavin^ trusted to the sincerity of his alliance, is be- 
come one vast buryiiig-place ! The pontiff" who 
crowned him, and raised him from a private station 
to the first throne in the world, what reward has he 
received for that diadem? Aa ignoninious captivity! 
And even yoi*r own country, which, for the sake of 
a foreigner, seems to have forgotten the race of St. 
Louis, what advantages does she derive from her 
submission? Incessant new taxes, to maintain a 
crowd of worthless courtiers, or to gratify the luxury 
of a family insatiable in their pleasures, lu addition 
to this, you have proscriptions and secret executions 
without number. Your very thoughts are fettered, 
and whole generations are destroyed. In truth, your 
mothers have often been reduced to the sad necessity 
of deploring their fecundity. This,' said the vene- 
rable old man to me, * this is the situation in which 
your tyrant has placed you : a tyrant who is the more 
vain and odious, because he sprung from an obscure 
family; and who, formerly having scarcely one do- 
mestic to serve him, is now desirous that the whole 
universe should crouch at his feet, and that even 
kings should be compelled to wait in his anti-room. 
If I did not fear to disgrace the majesty of that mo- 
narch who loves us as we love him, I would draw a 
comparison between your monarch and ours, — but 
such a comparison would only produce a shocking 
contrast, as it would place vice in constant opposition 
to virtue.' 

Struck by the energy of this priest, whose 
strength of mind had suffered nothing from age, 1 



148 MOSCOW. 

remained silent, and was at the sarae time charmed 
with his candour. Affected by the confidence with 
which he had honoured me, I thought I might cast 
off all reserve, and derive much useful information 
from his conversation. * As you have just mention- 
ed the emperor Alexander,' said 1 to him, ' pray 
tell me what is become of him? Since we passed the 
Wilia we have never heard any thing- of him; and at 
Witepsk, in a public audience, Napoleon announced, 
with much satisfaction, that this monarch had shared 
the fate of his father, having- fallen a victim, at Wi- 
liki-luki, to the treachery of his courtiers. ' 

* He cannot have much greatness of soul, ' an- 
swered the old man, smiling, 'who tr'mmphs at the 
death of an enemy. But, to prove to you the falsity 
of that report, and to show you how much harmony 
exists among all classes at this critical momei;t, and 
how beloved our sovereign is, i will read you a letter, 
which was sent to me from Moscow, a few days after 
Alexander had arrived there from the army.' At 
these words he took out the letter, translating it to 
me as he went on. 

3Iosco7v, July 27.* 
'This day will add new lustre to our annals^ and 
the remembrance of it will descend to the remotest 
posterity, as an eternal testimony of Russian patriot- 
ism and loyalty. It will record the ardent attach- 

* The translation of this letter having appeared in the 
French journals, it is given here as it was published in the 
Monitenr. 



MOSCOW. 149 

ment, which our illustrious nobility, and every class 
of citizens, feel for our beloved sovereig-n. After a 
notificatiou published in the evening-, the nobility and 
the merchants assembled, at eight o'clock on the fol- 
lowing morning, at the palace Slobode, to wait the 
arrival of our most gracious emperor. Notwith- 
standing- the object of this meeting had not been 
communicated, every one attended, full of those 
loyal feeling's which the appeal of the father of his 
country to his children, in the capital of his empire, 
would naturally inspire. The silence which reigned 
in this vast assembly clearly proved their union, and 
their disposition to submit to any sacrifice. When 
the manifesto of his imperial majesty was read in the 
presence of the governor of Moscow, appealing- to 
the nation at large, and calling- on every one to de- 
fend his country, against an enemy * who, with craft 
in his heart, and seduction on his lips, was bringing 
fetters and indissoluble chains for Russia,' the illus- 
trious posterity of the Pojarskies, animated by the 
most ardent zeal, immediately testified their readi- 
ness to sacrifice the whole of their property, and 
even their lives. They immediately resolved that 
levies should be made in the government of Moscow, 
to form an army of the interior, consisting of ten 
men eut of every hundred, who should be armed to 
the utmost of their abiMtj, and provided with cloth- 
ing and pay. The manifesto being afterwards read 
in the assembly of the merchants, this body, animat- 
ed by the general zeal, resolved that a sum of money 
should be levied on each of them, proportionate to 



150 3JSOSCOW. 

their respective capitals, to defray the expense of the 
army of the interior. Not satisfied with this, the 
g-reater part of them were desirous of making far- 
ther sacrifices. They demanded permission to open 
a vokmtary subscription for that purpose, and in less 
than an hour, the sum subscribed amounted to more 
than one million and a half of roubles. 

* Such was the disposition of these two bodies, 
when his majesty, who had attended divine service 
at the church of the palace, appeared amo*.g the no- 
bles. After assuring- them, in a short speech, that 
he considered the zeal of the nobility as the firmest 
support of his throne ; and, acknowledging that they 
had, at all times, and under all circumstances, shown 
themselves the guardians and faithful defenders of 
the integrity and glory of their beloved country, he 
condescended to give them a brief sketch of the state 
of military affairs, wh^ch then required extraordinary 
measures of defence. When he was informed of 
the unanimous decision of the two bodies, who had 
resolved to furnish, to clolhe, and to arm, at their 
own expense, eighty thousand men for the defence 
of Moscow, he received this new proof of attach- 
ment to his person, ai»d of love to the country, with 
the feelings of a father who loves his children; and 
who is proud of their courage. Yielding to the 
emotions whi«h overpowered him, he exclaimed, 
* I did not expect less : you have fully confirmed my 
opinion of you.' 

' Afterwards his imperial majesty condescended 
to proceed to the saloon where the merchants were 



MOSCOW^ 151 

iassembled, and, being informed of the zeal they bad 
shown both in the resolution of levying* a sum on the 
whole body, and making an extraordin:iry voluntary 
subscription of a millioa and a half of roubles, he 
expressed his gracious satisfaction in terms dictated 
by wisdom itself. His speech was followed by the 
general exclamation of, ' We are ready to sacritice 
for our father, not only our fortunes, but our ives.* 
These were the words of the descendents of the im- 
mortal Minin. The scene of that morning requires 
the pen of a new Tacitus ; while the pei.cil of a se- 
cond Apelles alone would do justice to the picture, 
which represented the monarch and the father beam- 
ing kindness and benevolence, receiving from his 
children, who throiiged around him, the sacritices 
which they were offering on the altar of theii* 
country. 

* May our enemy be informed of this f May thai 
proud man, who sports with the fate of his subjects, 
learn it, and tremble ! We shall all march against 
him. We are guided by religion, and by loyalty for 
our sovereign and country. We will conquer, or 
perish together.* 

After having read this letter, the pious friar in- 
formed me that the patriarch Platon, archbishop of 
Moscow, notwithstanding his advaiiced and decrepid 
age, watched still in the spirit and in prayer, for the 
welfare of his sovereign and the empire, and that he 
had just sciit to his imperial majesty the precious 
image of Saint Serge, bishop of Kadou^gue. The 
monarch, added he, accepted this sacred relic, and 
presented ik to the army of Moscow, hoping that it 



152 MOSCOW. 

would be safe under the protection of this saitit, who 
once, by his benediction, shielded the victorious 
Demitri Douskoi, in his combat against the cruel 
Mamai. 

This is the letter of his eminency Platon, dated 
from the abbey Troitsa,* July 26th. 

* Moscow, the capital of the empire, the new Je- 
rusalem, receives her Christ like a mothei*, in the 
arms of her faithful sons ; and perceivnig-, through 
the mist which is raised, the brilliant glory of his 
power, she sings joyfully, Hosannab, praised be he who 
is arrived ! Let the arrogant and shameless Goliath 
bring his mortal terrors from tl^e limits of France to 
the confines of Russia! Peaceful relig'on, this shng of 
the Russian David, will soon destroy his sanguinary 
pride. This image of Saint Serge, ancient defender 
of our country's happiness, is otlered to your imperial 
majesty's acceptance.' 

Astonished at a custom so different from ours, I 
asked whether it was really true, that the emperor 
Alexander had given this standard to his soidters. 
* I am so certain of it,' answered the venerable ec- 
clesiastic, ' that it would be sacrilegious to doubt it. 
Letters from Moscow have since informed us, that 
bishop Augustin, vicar of that capital, having assem- 
bled all the troops in the town,f chanted a 'ie Deum 
and presenting them with the image of Saint Serge, 
pronounced a discourse which dissolved the whole 

* About fifteen leagues distant from Moscow. 

f Saturday, August 17tb, or, according to our calender, August 
29th, whicti, as is well knowD, afiticipateS the Russian calender bv 
fwelve days. 



Moscow. 153 

congregation in tears. We have seen these troops 
passing under the walls of our abbe^?, in their way 
to the battle of Moscow, and carrying with vfenera- 
tion that sacred standard. They marched to the 
corabat like true christian soldiers, devoted to their 
religion, their country, and their prince. These sen- 
timents were expressed m their countenances ; a ce- 
lestial joy beamed from their eyes at the thought of 
combatting the enemy. Every warrior, even those 
who had just entered the service, glowed with 
the ardour of most experienced veterans, and show- 
ed that unlimited submissioti to his chieis, and ob- 
served that strict discipiij^e, which is the duty and 
the surest sign of a good soldier. The country peo- 
ple, who saw them pass, implored Irom the bottom 
of their hearts, the protection of heaven on these 
brave men who proceeded from the ancient capital of 
llnssia, that city, which in former times had, with her 
own forces, laid the insolent enemy in the dust, who 
presumptuously came to destroy it.' 

Filled with astoiiishment at the extraordinary 
things which this good old man had conmmnicated 
to me, I felt the deepest respect for a nation so great, 
even in its misfortunes ; and 1 said to myself, ' That 
people must be invincible, who, firm to their princi- 
ples, shrink not at ihe approach of danger, and stake 
their own preservation on that of their religion and 
their laws.' 

Early on the following morning we quitted the 
abbey. As I retired from it, I looked behind, and 
saw the first rays of the rising sun, gilding the sum- 
20 



154 MOSCOW. _ 

rnit of t]io<?e lofty wails, vvliich had been ererteri as 
the asvlum of peace, biii which, after our detartnrej 
bee ime a piev to u'Klisciplinerl briofands. I ruraina- 
ted on these pai fnl ideas, amd, taking- a road parallel 
with tfje Moskwa, T observed that bridges had been 
ejected before Zweniohorod, with the intention of 
o ening' a comnnunicalion wiih the grand arniv, who 
marched towards Moscow on the opposite bank. 

We followed the ronrse of the Moskwa, when 
the Cossacks again appeared, manceuvruig just in the 
same rr^anner as tbev had done the nseht before. 
They attempled, for a moment, near Aksniino, to 
slop the Bavarian light horse ; but some of ihetr men 
being wounded, they fled in disorder, and retired be- 
yond the Moskwa, which we crossed below the vil- 
\aQ;e of Spaskoe. The river was shallow at that point, 
Qi d bo'ih men and horses easily effected a passa»-e. 
The Cossacks, who waited for us at the edr'd-ce of a 
wood, dispersed when they s;!W that the barrier 
wHiich separated them from us had been overstepped. 
Tiience we pursued our mach as far as Buzaievo, 
where the post-house alone remained, and a castle, on 
a very steep eminence, surrounded by woods, in which 
prince ijigeue lodged. 

The foJiowing morning, (September 14th), anx- 
ious to arrive at Moscow, we commenced our 
march at an early hour, and passed through several 
deserted villages. On the banks of the Moskwa, 
towards our right, were some magnificent chateaux, 
which the cossacks had pillaged, to deprive us of 
every comfort which these places could afford. The 



MOSCOW, 155 

<5orn, ready for harvest, had either been trodden 
down, or ea^eri by the horses. The hay-stacks, which 
covered the country, were given to the flames, and 
spread all around an impenetrable smoke. When 
"we at last reached the village of Tscherepkova, and 
our cavahy continued their march, the viceroy as- 
cended an emiiieuce on our right, and loug evamiiied 
whether Moscow, the object of all our wishes, could 
be seen; for we regarded it as the end of our fatigues 
and the termination of our expedition. Several hills 
yet concealing it from our view, we perceived no- 
thing but clouds of dust, which, rising paraiiei widi 
our march, indicated the route which the gia id army 
had pursued. A Jew cannon-shots, tired ai a ustaiice, 
and with long inlervais, disposed us to tiiink that our 
troops were approaching Moscow, without experienc- 
ing much resistance. 

As we descended from the eminence, we suddenly 
heard the most dreadful cries, A troop of cossacks, 
issuing from a neighbouring wood, had, in their 
accustomed manner, rushed upon our chasseurs, and 
Ciideavoured to stop the march of our van-guard. 
But our brave fellows*, far from being intimidated by 
thss unexpected attack, quickly repelled those vain 
efforts by which a powerless horde strove to impede 
our entrance into the capital. Tliese were the iast 
struggles of a desperate courage, and the Russians, 
beaten and dispersed, were obliged to fly, under the 
wails of the Kremlin, as they had before done on the 
banks of the Koiogha. 



156 MOSCOW. 

We distinguished, at a distance, and amidst th@ 
dust, long- columns of Russian cavalry, all marching 
towards Moscow, and all retiring behind the town, 
as soon as we approached it. While the fourth corps 
was constructing a bridge across the Moskwa, the 
staff, about two o'clock, established itself on 'a lofty 
hill, whence we perceived a thousand elegant and 
gilded steeples, which, glittering in the rays of the 
sun, appeared ai tlie distance like so many flaming 
globes* One of these globes, placed on the sum- 
mit of a pillar, or an obelisk, had the exact appear- 
ance of a baJloori, suspended in the air. Transported 
with delight at this beautiful spectacle, v/hich was the 
more gratifying, from the remembrance of the me- 
lancholy objects which we had hitherto seen, we 
could not suppress our joy ; but, with one spor»tane- 
ous movement, we all exclaimed, Moscow ! Moscow ! 
At the sound of this wished-for name, the soldiers 
ran up the hill in crowds, and each discovered new 
wonders every instant. One admired a noble cha- 
teau on our left, the elegant architecture of which 
displayed more than eastern magnificence; another 
directed his attention towards a palace or a tem = »ie; 
but all were struck with the superb picture which 
this immense town afforded. It is situated in the 
midst of a fertile plain. The Moskwa is seen mean- 
dering through the richest meadows; and, after hav- 
ing fertilized the neighbouring country, takes its 
co\n"se through the middle of the town, separating an 
immense cluster of houses, built of wood 3 stone, and 



MOSCOW. 157 

bricks, constructed in a style which partakes of the 
g'othic an<^ modern architecture, and in which, in- 
deed, the architecture of every different nation is 
strangely ming-'ed. The walls, variously painted, 
the domes covered wilh lead, or slates, or glittering 
With gold, offered the most pleasing variety ; whilst 
the terraces before the palaces, the obelisks over the 
gates, and, above all, the f-teeples, really presented to 
our eyes one of those celebrated cities of Asia, which 
we had thought had only existed in the creative ima- 
gination of the Arabian poets. 

We were still contemplating this noble spectacle, 
when we saw a well-dressed man coming towards 
us, through a by-way from Moscow. Several of 
our soldiers immediately ran to meet him, and, view- 
ing hmi with suspicion, were disposed to make him 
pay dearly for his imprudent, curiosity. But the 
calmness with which he addressed us, and the iiu- 
ency with which he spoke our language, and, above 
all, our impatience to hear some tidiugs from Mos- 
cow, made us all listen to him with pleasure and in- 
terest. 

* I am not come here,* said he, * to observe 
your manoeuvres, nor to give you false information ; 
I am an unfortunate merchant, ignorant of every 
thing which relates to war; and, notwithstanding I 
am the victim, I have not inquired into the motives 
which have induced our sovereigns to engage in this 
fatal contest. Your emperor to-day, about noon, en- 
tered Moscow, at the head of his invincible legions; 
but he found only a deserted town. Some wretches, 



J5S MOSCOW. 

"who have escaped from prison, and some miserable 
prostitutes, were the only creatures who interrupted 
its solitude. Hasten, if possible, to stop their ex- 
cesses. Liberty has only been gras ted them, with 
the hope, that all the crimes which I'hey may commit 
■will be attributed to the French army. Being: aware 
of the m sfortunes which threaten us, I came to find 
among you a man sufficiently generous to protect my 
family ; for, in S|)ite ot the orders of our government, 
I cannot consent to abandon my house, and to lead a 
wanderif)g, miserable life in the woods. I prefer ap- 
plying to Freiich generosity, and I trust that I shall 
find a protector amoiig those who have been ever re- 
presented to us as our most cruel enemies. The 
great men of our empire, deceived by a savage and 
destructive policy, wjll doubtless attempt to irritate 
you, by causing the whole population to emigrate, 
and leaving nothing but a deserted city, if indeed, 
it is not alrevidy sacrificed to the flames.' Every one 
interrupted him, sayinjj-, thnt it was impossible any 
people would thus effect their own rum, from the 
uncertain hope of" involving their enemy m it. 

*It IS but too true that such a resoluhon is taken,* 
said this unhappy man, ' and, if you yet doubt it, 
know, that count Rastopchin, governor of Moscow, 
quitted it yesterday. Before he departed, he charged 
the very outcast of human beings to assist him in his 
revenge. How far he will proceed I k.ow not; but 
I tremble when I recollect that he has often threaten- 
ed to burn Moscow, if the French 'should approach 
it Such barbarity must seem atrocious and even 



aioscoWi 15^ 

incredible to you, if you are not aware of the deadly 
hatred which your unheard of victories have inspired 
in the nobility. They know that the whole of Eu- 
rope is under your domination, and, from a senti- 
ment of pride, they would destroy their native coun* 
try, Hither than see it subjug-ated. 

* If the nobility, ashamed of their defeats, had 
not meditated the destruction of the capita;, why 
should they have fl d with all their pro,)erty ? Why 
have the merchants likewise been comi)elle'.i to fol- 
low them, can- ing- with them iheir goods and I heir 
treasures ? Why, lastly, have no magistrates remain- 
ed in this desolated town, to implore the mercy of t^ie 
conqueror ? They have ail fled, aixl thus seem deter- 
mined to urge your soldiers to every excess; for 
the legal authorities, the Oiily protection of the citi- 
zens, by abandoning their posts, have abandoned 
every thing.' 

This unfortunate Moscovite shed many bittei'' 
tears while he thus addressed us. To calm his grief 
we promised what he requested, and e ideavoured to 
console him, by dissipating tho>e fears, too well 
founded, which the dangers of his unhappy coun- 
try had excited. We questioned him as to the direc- 
tion in which the Russians had retreated ; what they 
had done since the battle of the Moskwa, and, lastly, 
what was become of the emperor Alexander and his 
brother Constantine ? He answered all our questions 
in the most satisfactory manner, and confirmed the 
intelligence which had been already communicated 
tfo ra« by the friar in Zvvenighorod. This unhappy 



160 MOSCOtV. 

man becoming- more composed, and being" secretly 
flattered by the ag-reeable surprise which the sigfjt of 
Moscow and its environs had caused, consented at 
mj request to give us some account of a city, the con- 
quest of which promised to crown ail our hopes. He 
expressed himself as follows : — 

' Moscow, built in the Asiatic style, has five enclo- 
sures, one within another ; the last comprising the 
town and its suburbs, is about thirty werste.%* in cir- 
cumference; but the fourth enclosure, which compri- 
ses the town only, and which is called Semlaingorodt 
is but twelve. The suburbs, or slohodes, are thirty in 
number. In winter, fhe population amounts to three 
hundred thousand souls; but, on the approach of sum- 
mer, every one retires to his country-house, and this 
number diminishes one third. 

* The high towers and the embattled walls, 
which you see rising in thesmidst of the town, trace 
the first enclosure, called Kremlin. This fortress, in. 
the form of a perfect triangle, is celebrated in our an- 
nals, and has never been taken. f The plan of it * 
was drawn, towards the fourteenth century, by some 
Italian architects. J The interior ot the Kremlin is di- 

* Seven leagues. 

f The people of Moscow believed that the preservation of the 
empire depended on the towers of this ancieat fortress. A false 
tradition persuaded them that it never had been taken. Thus, to 
express the idea of security, it was a common saying, Jls safe as 
tvilhin the Kremlin. 

X Voltaire's Bistoire de Russie, volume I. page 60, stereotype 
edition. 



MOSCOW,* 161 . 

vicled into two parts ; the one called Krepofs, or cita- 
de], contains only the palace, and some churches, 
each of which is surmounted by five domes. Prom 
this place you may perfectly distinguish them, as 
much by their elevation as by the gilding of the 
steeples, and their fantastical architecture. In the se- 
cond enclosure are some noble houses, commercial 
streets, and the place called Bazar, or Khitaigorod, a 
name given it by the Tartars, who were its founders. 
*Poedor, the elder brother of Peter the Great, 
began to improve Moscow. He constructed several 
buildings of stone, but without any regular architec- 
ture. To him we owe the first stud of beautiful hors- 
es, and some useful embellishmeats.* Although Peter 
had a particular affection for Petersburg, nevertheless, 
tiis genius, which embraced every thing, did not neg- 
lect Moscow. He caused it to be paved, adorned it 
with many superb edifices, and enriched it with valu- 
able manufactures; and, lastly, under Elizabeth, a 
university was established. f 

* The arsenal within the krepots, is remarkable 
for six culverins, mounted on fixed carriages, the 
largest of which is twenty-four feet in length. Near 
the principal gate, is likewise an enormous howitzer, 
at least three feet in diameter. Further on is the an* 
cient palace of the Czars. It is the residence ^ our 
emperors. Yours has now established himself there. 

* Voltaire'8 Histoire de Roseie, vol. I. page 52. 
f l(km. 

91 



16S MOSCOW. 

Behind is \he pal-ire of the senate ; near which is the 
c^sthedra^ of St. luau, aiiH the foiindahoo of an an- 
C'ent tower, with the famous hell which was ca^1 ia 
IVIosrovv, towards the midd'e of the sixteenth century, 
under ihe Czar Boris Go io;*o. Ft h an astonishing' 
proflurtion, and proves, that even at that remote peri- 
od, she Russians had made g-reat prooress m civilrza- 
lion and the tine arts. This bell, jHstly admired for 
the beantv of the fitjnres wh'ch surround it, surpasses 
in size the most fymons in Europe.* 

* From the krepots you enjoy a der!2:htfu] prospect. 
On the riij^ht vmd left are two bridg'f's, across the Mosk- 
"wa. Beyond the river are some niasjnificent palaces; 
and Hi the back-ground is a fine country, embelished 
with many noble mansions.' 

But, said I, interrupting- the Moscovite, tell us what 
immense fabric is this with an infinite number of win- 
dows on each side, and which. In its enormous mag- 
nitude, seems to command the whole town ? 

* It is the hospital Shere^nitow/ answered he, 
' built by the illustrious family of that name. One 
of their ancestors was the glorious companion in. 
arms of Peter the Great ; and the riches which he ac- 
quired, were always devoted to the prosperity and 
glory of the nation. In this building were educated 
the orphans and the children of those who have de- 
fended the country. But at present the children have 
been removed, and their fathers, to the number of 

J: Voltaire's Histoire de Russie, torn. i. page SU 



MOSCOW,. 163 

twenty thousand who have been gloriously wounded 
at Mojaisk, occupy their places. These unhappy men 
are abandoned, death is before their eyes ; and it" soir 
generosity does not in this niomeut ot cahimity iui*: d 
them assistance, they will be left to die in the UiOst 
fnachttnl torments. 

' FiOHi the jrate of Petersburg- to that of Kaln^a, 
numerous palates aie seeii, which, by tiseir riches 
and mag'niticence, att> act the aitentioi; ot the travel- 
ler. At: these paiaies are newiy cot strncted, and 
aiHioUiice the prodigious wealth that Russia uns »c- 
cumniated within these tew \ears. Bnl the most 
af4ouishing^ of al:, is the palace of Orlow. It belongs 
to the only heiress of this nume, whose income ex- 
ceeds six milhoiis of rubies.* The extent of this 
palace is immense, anci the beauty of the interior 
corresponds with the spacious courts and enchanting- 
gardens uliich sm round it. 

* You will tind in my country,' added the Mosco- 
vite, * a great number of editices, justly celebrated as 
the m<ist beautiful m Europe. It is use. ess to des- 
cribe them to you, since you will soon see them your- 
selves. I wish that you may long admire them, but a 
fatal presentiment convinces me, that this great and 
superb tovi^u, justly considered as the market of Eu- 
ro|)eand of Asia, will, ere lo g, astonish the world by 
the must dreadful catastrophe.' 

As he uttered these words, the unfortunate man 
seemed suffocated h ith gnel. 1 pitied him ; but I 

^ One million sterling. 



364 MOSCOWr 

could not leave hirn without asking" the name of that 
great building of red and white brick, which was seen 
to the, north of the town, on the road to Petersburg". 
He informed me, that it was the famous chateau of 
Peterskoe, where the sovereigns of Russia used to re- 
side previous to their coronation. 

Although the bridge over the Moskwa was not yet 
finished, the viceroy ordered the troops of his corps to 
Ci\:ss the river. The cavalry had already passed it, 
ar>d bid taken post before the village of Khorch6vo, 
We were here officially informed of the entry of our 
troops into Moscow. The fourth corps received or-*- 
ders to halt at this place till the foliowmg day, when 
an hour would be appointed for us to enter the capital 
of the Russian empire. 

Oil the 15lh of September our corps left the vil- 
lage, where it had encamped, at an early hour, and 
marched to Moscow. As we approached the city, 
we saw that it had no walls, and that a simple para- 
pet of earth was the only work which constituted the 
outer enclosure. Kolhing indicated that the town 
was inhabited ; and the road by which we arrived was 
so deserted, that we saw neither Russian or even 
French soldiers. No cry, no noise vi'as heard, in the 
midst of this awful solitude. We pursued our march 
a prey to the utmost anxiety, and that anxiety was 
redoubled when we perceived a thick smoke, which 
arose in the form of a column, from the centre of the 
town. It was at first believed that the Russians, 
agreeably to their custom, had, in retreating, set fire 
to some magaziaes. Recohecting, however^ the re-? 



iMOSCow. 165 

«ital of the inhabitant of Moscow, we feared that his 
prediction was about to be ftdtilled. Eager to know 
the cause of this conflagralioii, we in vain endeavour- 
ed to find same one who mij>ht satisfy our irrepressible 
cnriosity, and the impossibdity of satisfying- it, increas- 
ed oar impatiei.ce, asid augmented our alarm. 

We did not e iter at the first barrier that presented 
itself, but, moving to the leit, we continued to march 
round the town. At length, according" to the orders 
of the viceroy, I phiced the troops of the fourth corps 
in a position, to guard the high road towards Peters- 
burg: The thirteenth and fifteenth divisions, en- 
camped around the chateau of Peiersko'e, the four- 
teenth established itself in the viliaoe between Vios- 
cow and this chateau^ and the Bavarian light cavalry 
was a league ia front of the village. 

When these positions were taken, the viceroy en- 
tered Moscow, and fixed h s head-quarters in the pal- 
ace of prioce Momonotf, in the beautiful street of 8t. 
Petersburg. Tne quarter assigned to our corps was 
one of the fi lest in the town. It was composed en- 
tirely of superb edifices, and of houses, which, although 
of wood, had an appearance of surprising grandeur 
and magnificence. Tiie magistrates having abandon- 
ed the town, every one established himself at his plea- 
sure in these sumptuous i^alaces; even the subaltern 
officer was lodged in vast apartments richly decorated, 
and of which he could easily fancy himself to be the 
proprietor, since no one appeared but a humble and 
submissive porter, who, with a trembling hand, deiiv» 
ered to him the keys of the mansion. 



16& MOSCOW. 

Although Moscow had been entered by some of 
our troops the preceding' day, so extensive and so de- 
scried was the town that no sohlier had jet j.ei etraled 
into the quarter uhich we v\ere to occu|)^. The most 
intiepid muids were afiected by this iobehness. 1'he 
streets were so long that our cavahy could rmt recog- 
nize each other troiii the op|;osite extrtnaiies. liiey 
were seen advancing' with caution : the , .siruck with 
fear, they suddenly fled irom each otlier, though ll.ey 
were all enlisted under thesanie banners. In | ro[..or- 
tion as a new quarter was occupied, reconnoitring 
parties were sent torward to exaaitne the palaces and 
the churches, [a the former w ere found only o.d n^en, 
children, or Ru&sian ofliCerf-:, who 1 ad been wounded 
in the preceding engagements : m the latter, the altars 
were decorated as it for a festival ; a thousand lighted 
tapers, burning in honour of the patron saint of the 
country, attested that die pious JVIoscovites had not 
ceased to invoke him tiil the moment ot their depar- 
ture. This solemn and religious spectacle, rendered 
the people w horn we had conquered, povvertul and res- 
pectable in our e>tin!ation, and fiileo us wsth that ton- 
slern&tion which is the offspring of injustice.. With 
cautious steps we advanced through this awful soii- 
lode ; often stoppiiigand iookiiig feariutiy behind us; 
then, struck willi sutiden terr« r, v.e eagerly iihtened to 
every sound ; lor tl e magn ation, tnghtened at the 
ver^ magnitiuic ot our conquest, made us apprehensive 
of treachery in every place. At the least noise we fan- 
cied thai we heard the clashing ot arms, and the cries 
f)i the wounded, 



MOSCOW. 1G7 

Approaching, however, towards the centre of 
the town, and especially in the neighbourhood of the 
Bazar, we beo'an to see some inhabitants assembled 
aronnd the Kremlin. These deladed beings, deceiv- 
ed by a national tradition^ had believed that this cita- 
del was impregnable, and had attempted the preced- 
ing day to defend it for an instant against our valiant 
legions. Dismayed by their defeat, they coulem- 
plated, with tears, those loftv towers which they had 
hitherto regarded as the palladium of their city. Pro- 
ceeding further on, we saw a crowd of sodiers, who 
exposed to public sale a vast quantity of articles 
which they had pdlaged ; for it was only at the grand 
magazines of provisions that the imperial guards had 
placed sentinels. Cvintinumg our progress, the num- 
ber of soldiers multiplied; they yvere seen in troops, 
carrying on their backs pieces of cloth, loaves of su- 
gar, and whole bales of merchandise. We knew 
not how to account for this shocking siisorder, when 
at length some fusileers of the guards informed us 
that the smoke which we had seen on enterino- the 
town, proceeded from a vast building, full of goods, 
called the exchange, and which the Russians h:id set 
on fire in their retreat. * Yesterday,' said these sol- 
diers, * we entered the city about twelve o'clock, 
and, towards five, the tire began to appear. We en- 
deavoured at first to extinguish it, buL we soon learned 
that the governor had sent away all the engines. It 
is also believed,' added they, ' that this fire, which 
cannot be subdued, has been kindled by the nobilit}, 
with an intention of exciting us to plunder, and de- 



108 . MOSCOW. 

stroying' our discipline -, and likewise with the deter- 
mination to rnin those merchants who opposed Ihe 
abandonment of Moscow.' 

A natural curiosity made me proceed. As I ad- 
vanced towards the fire, the aveiuies were still more 
obstructed by soldiers and beg'g'ars carrvirso- off goods 
of every kind. The less precious articles were des- 
pised, and soon thrown away, and the streets were 
covered with merchandise of every descrij-tion. I 
penetrated at leng^th ii»to ihe interior of the exchange ; 
bul, atas! it was no more the building- so renowned 
for its mag-nificence; it was rather a \ast furnace, 
from every side of \\hiGh the burning' rafters were 
continually falling, and threatening us with instant 
destruction. I could still, however, proceed with 
some degree of safety under the piazzas. These 
were filled with numerous warehouses, which the 
soldiers had broken open ; every chest was rifled, and 
the spoil exceeded all their expectations. No cry, 
no tumult was heard in this scene of horror. JEvery 
one found abundantly sufficient to satisfy his thirst 
for plunder. Nothing was heard but the crackling 
of the flames, and the noise of the doors that were 
broken open ; and occasionally a dreadful crash, caus- 
ed by the falling in of some vault. Cottons, muslms, 
and, in short, all the most costly productions of Eu- 
rope and of Asia, were a prey to the flames. The 
cellars were filled with sugar, oil, and vitriol; these 
burning all at once in the subterraneous warehouses, 
sent forth torrents of flame through thick iron grates, 
and presented a striking image of the mouth of hell. 



It was a spectacle both terrible and affecting. Even 
the most har^iened minds were struck with a conviction 
that so g-reat a calamity would, on some future dajjj 
Call forth the vea^eance of the Almighty upon the au- 
thors of such crimes. 

The information which I endeavoured to obtain^ 
with regard to the causes of this fire, were very un- 
satisfactory ; but, returning in the evening to the pa- 
lace where our staff was quartered, I met a French- 
man there, who had been tutor to the children of 

prince >. This geUleman possessed much 

general knowledge, and a sound judgment in politics. 
His conversation was the more interesting, as he had 
long lived among the Russian nobility, and was per- 
fectly acquainted with their character and views. 
Moreover, the events which happened in Moscow 
since the battle of the Moskwa, had passed under 
bis observation, and, although a Frenchman, he form- 
ed one of the small number of those, who, by their 
talents and their prudence, had always been on a foot- 
ing of intimacy with count Hastopchin. This meet- 
ing was extremely fortunate, as it gave me an oppor- 
tunity of learning what I was so desirous to know j 
particularly the true character of the governor, who, 
notwithstanding" the blackest calumriies, will alwavs 
be revered by his fellow-citizens, and will be cited 
by future generations as a model of courge and patri- 
otism. 

* Although the French advanced towards Mos- 
cow in three columns,' said the tutor, * so nnich , 



170 MOSCOW. 

pru'lence was employed bv count RasfopcTiin, in con- 
cealing- the truth from the people, that noue but the 
nobility, and the persons atU^ched to the o;overnment, 
were acquainted with the terrible disasters with which 
the city was threatened. This, it is true, contributed 
to prolong our illusions; but when we saw the Rus- 
sian armv return within these walls, preceded by thirty 
thousand wounded, and dragging after them the whole 
populahon of the country, the citizens renounced their 
peaceable occupations, and abandoned themselves to 
the utmost agitation. All societies were dissolved, 
and the public institutions deserted. Even the me- 
chanics, renouncing the work that supplied their fa- 
milies with bread, shut up their shops, and, sharing in 
the consternation, which was become universal, mix- 
ed ^Yilh the immense crowd which w^as running to the 
governor's house, to know whether they were to fly or 
remain. 

' In this painful and critical situation, the count 
Kastopchin, surrounded by the mos; illustrious of 
the no' ility, and by the richest a?;d most esteemed 
among the merchants, reminded his fellow-citizens 
oi the solemn promises which they had made to their 
emperor. He recalled to their minds that memora- 
ble scene, when the sovereign, the father of his 
country, received from his children, the homage of 
their fortunes and their lives. At this recollection, 
the governor, overpowered by the sentiments which 
agitated him, was almost suffocated by excess of feel- 
ing, and lost the faculty of sjjeech. This silent scene 
lasted several minutes, and produced more tears than 



MOSCOW^ 171 

the mosteloquent harangue would have done. But the 
interest ot the state, conquering a sensibihty so natu- 
ral, and so affecting, a nobleman iu the assembly, who, 
from his diplomatic office, was well acquainted with 
the cause that had produced this disastrous war, ad- 
dressed them in the following words : — 

* *' Inhabitants of Moscow ! Jf you knew how 
the paternal heart of our monarch has suffered, and 
the means he has employed to ensure the repose and 
happmess of his empire — if you knew even how 
much his love of peace, and his desne to maintain 
even a disadvantageous ailiauce, have made him ne- 
glect the interests of his glory - you could ihen alone 
form an adequate idea of that excellent prince, who 
told us six weeks ago, I have neglected nothing to en- 
sure the peace of my countrv ; but, the more sacrifices 
1 made, the more were demanded by our enemy. 
For our justification in the eyes of posterity, we 
must avow that we have taken up arms, only in the 
utmost extremity ; and at the moment when our glo- 
rious empire was compelled to choose between the 
chas'.ces of war, or the infamy of having its laurels 
blasted. But, since injustice forces us to ihe com- 
bat, why siiould we fear it. For more than a cen- 
tury, war has aiways been to us tavourabie and gio- 
rious. The north was formerly the terror of the 
south ; and now, when the north approaches to civi- 
lization, and wishes for oniversal peace, the south, 
blinded by an ungovernable and fatal ambition, aban- 
dons its rich provinces, to overrun our frozen re- 
gions. Is it then necessary always to be the oppres- 



172 MOSCOW. 

sor, in order noi to be oppressed j and must my pa- 
cific senl ments be now the misfortune of my reign? 
In vain this scoiirg^e of mankind alleg-es, that he 
wages a war of policy, and that this is the struggle 
of civilization against barbarism! a clumsy artifice, 
which can Jteceive those only who a'*e unaccjuainted 
with our manners and principles. This civilization, 
so liigh-y vaunted, what has it to fear from us, who 
exhaust our treasures, who traverse the seas, and 
explore both hemis[iheres, to cultivate and to natu- 
ra,!ze it in our climate ? And those to wiiom we go 
for instruction, and who enrnh themselves by selling 
Tus the productions or their industry, these very peo- 
ple dare to call us barbarians ! No, no, this is not the 
motive of the war winch the ungrateful Napoleon 
makes upon us. He fears our rapid progress more 
than our barbarism. In fact, what nation is virtuous 
enough, not to be jealous oi the miraculous protec- 
tion which Providence grants to our empire. It is 
scarcely a century, since Peter, of illustrious me- 
mory, placed it in the rank of great nations; and 
since that time, how many countries have been sub- 
dued ! — how many cities have been captured ! — how 
ma^iy provinces reduced to submission ! Yet, let us 
rather consider as the noblest trophies, the towns 
that have been founded, the districts that iiave been 
civilized ; the universisies, colleges, and institutions, 
which have been established ; and you will find, that, 
in a short space of time, we have effaced the line 
which separated the civihzed from barbarised Eu-^ 
ropep It is our spirit of civilization^ so closely re^ 



Moseow. 173 

semhling- that of which the French are vain, which 
now attracts their hatred. They reproach us for our 
conquests over tie Persians and Turks, pretending 
not to know, that it is owing to the terror with which 
we have inspired the Musselraen, that Europe has 
ceased to be invaded by these infidels. Hungary owes 
to us its safety, ai)d Italy its preservation : far differ- 
ent, in this respect, from our enemies, whose conquests 
are only a new subject of dissention and war with iheir 
neighbours" 

* This is the substance of the memorable speech 
which the emperor Alexander pronounced in the 
assembly of the nobles ; and which the orator most 
judiciously repeated, as best calculated to rouse the 
courage of those who had not been present. Count 
Rastopchin, who hitherto had listened with sifent atr 
tention, seeing that the inhabitants of Moscow were 
sufficiently ^ re pared, rose immedialely from his seat, 
and, runniag to the balcony, which opened on the 
gTe;»t square, he thus addressed the people there as- 
sembled : — 

* " Brave Moscovites ! 

* " Our enemy advances ; and you already hear 
the roar of the cannon, not far (rom our suburbs. 
This bad man wishes to overwhelm a throne, the 
splendour of which eclipses his own. We have 
yielded ground, but we are not conquered. Yoii 
know that our etnperor, in imitation of his ancestors, 
resides in the camp. Our armies are almost un- 
touched, and are reinforced every day by new levies; 



174 MOSCOW* 

but those of our pei-fidious enemy, arrive exhausted^, 
annihilated. Insensible man! he thought that his 
viciorious eagle, after having- wandered from the banks 
of the Tay us to the sources of the Volga, could sub- 
due one, which, reared in the midst of the Kremlin, 
proudly hovers over our heads, extendmg one wing 
towards the pole, and reaching with the other beyoad 
the Bosphorus. 

* *' Let us persevere, and I venture to predict 
that our country will reappear from the midst of its 
ruins, greater and n.ore majestic than before. But, 
to attain an end so desirable, consider, my friends, 
that the greatest sacrifices must be made, and the 
dearest affections renounced. It behoves you now 
to prove yourselves w^orthy descendants of the Po- 
jarskies, the P.ihtsires, and ol the Minines, who, m 
the most unhappy times, established, by their cour- 
age, the belief that the Kremlin is inviolable. Cher- 
ish this pious tradit on, and maintain it, by arming 
yourselves aganist our dangerous esiemy, who wishes 
to annihilate our empire, and to pillage our altars. 
Sacritice every thing to obtain a victory, or be con- 
tent to lose your honour, your fortunes, and your 
independence. But if God, in the dispensations of 
his wisdom, should allow vice to triumph for a mo- 
nient, remember that it will be vour sacred duty to 
^y into the deserts, and to forsake a country which 
will no longer be yours, when the presence of your 
oppressors has polluted it. The inhabitants of Sa- 
ragossn, still recollecting the immortal courage of 
their ancestors, who, to escape the yoke of the Ro- 



MOSCOW, 175 

inaniS, kindled n funeral pile, and immolated iheir fa- 
milies and Jhemselves, have, like them, chosen rnther 
to perish under the rains of their town, than submit 
to injustice. The same tyranny now threitens to 
crush us. Let us show to the whole universe, that 
the glorious example of the Si)aniards has not been 
lost upon the Russians." 

* After this speech the most violent agitation suc- 
ceeded, and an ur^governab e populace, running* 
through the pri scipai streets, cried aloud that it was 
better to perish than to outlive their country and their 
teligion. Those on whom nature had not bestowed 
the most ardent courage, ran to their homes to save 
their families from the impending danger. Some 
fled with haste from the city. Others, on the con- 
trary, vowed to defend it, whilst the rest of the po- 
pulation, seizing their arms, either took refuge in the 
Kremlin, or, with torches in their hands, set fire to 
the exhange, which contained, as you know, im- 
mense riches, and where the French army might 
have found means of subsistence during the winter.' 

This was the account which the worthy tutor 
gave me of all that had happened at Moscow, previ- 
ous to our arrival there. We both lamented thes& 
calamitous events ; but, the day being calm, we hoped 
that the fire would not extend beyond the exchange. 
But what was our regret and our terror, when on 
the following morning, at the dawn of day (Septem- 
ber 16), we saw the conflagration raging on every 
side, and perceived that the wind, blowing with vio- 
lence, spread the flames in all directions. 



176 MOSCOW. 

The most bearl-rending* scene which my imagi* 
nation had ever conceived, far surrassing' the most 
afflicting" accounts in ancient or mociern history, now 
presented itself before our eyes. A great part of the 
pO'>ulation of Moscow, frighleaed at our arrival, had 
concealed themselves in cellars or secret recesses of 
their houses. As the tire spread around, we saw 
thesii rushing in despair from their various asylums. 
They uUered no imprecation, they breathed no com- 
plaint, but, carrying with them their most precious 
effects, fled before the flames. Others, of greater 
seiisibihly, aiul actuated by the genuine feelings of 
nature, saved only their children, who were closely 
clas|ied in their arms. Many old peop e, borne down 
bv grief rather than by age, had not sufficient strength 
to toliovt' their families, and expired near the houses 
in which they were born. The streets, the public 
places, and particularly the churches, were filled with 
these unhappy people, who, lying on the remains of 
their property, suffered even without a murmur. No 
contention or noise was heard. Both the conqueior 
and the conquered were equally hardened : the one 
from excess of fortune — the other from excess of 
misery. 

The fire, whose ravages could not be restrained, 
soon reached the finest parts of the city. Those pa- 
laces which we had admired for ihe beauty of their 
architecture, and the elegance of their furniture, were 
enveloped in the flames. Their magaificent fronts, 
ornamented with bas-reliefs and statues, fell with a 
dreadful crash on the fragments of the pillars which 



MOSCOW. 177 

had supported them. The churches, thon^-h covered 
with iron and lead, were likewise destroyed, and 
with them those beautiful steeples, which we had 
seen the night before, resplendent with ""old and sil- 
ver. The hospitals, too, which contained more Ihan 
twenty thousand wounded, soon be^^an to burn. This 
offered a harrowing and dreadful spectacle ; almost 
all these poor wretches perished. A few who still 
lingered, were seen crawling, half burnt, amongst the 
smoaking ruins ; and others, groaning under heaps of 
dead bodies, endeavoured in vain to extricate them- 
selves from the horrible destruction which surrounded 
them. 

How shall T describe the confusion and tumult 
when permission was granted to pillage this immense 
city ! Soldiers, suttlers, galley-slaves, and prosti- 
tutes, eagerly ran through the streets, penetrating mto 
the deserted palaces, and carrying away every thing 
which could gratify their avarice. Some covered 
themselves with stuffs, richly worked with gold ; 
some were enveloped in beautiful and costly furs ; 
while others dressed themselves in women's and chil- 
dren's pelisses, and even the galley-slaves concealed 
their rags under the most splendid court-dresses ; the 
rest crowded into the cellars, and forcing open the 
doors, drank the most luscious wines, and carried off 
an immense booty. 

This horrible pillage was not confined to the de- 
serted houses alone, but extended to those which 
were inhabited, and soon the eagerness and wauton- 
23 



178 MOSCOW. 

ness of tlie plunderers, caused devastalions wbicli 
almost equalled those occasioned by the conflagra- 
tion. Ever^ asvium was soon violated by the licen- 
tious troops. The inhabitants who had officers in 
their houses, for a litlie while flattered themselves 
that thev should escape the general calamity. Vain 
illusion ! the fire, progressively increasing, soon de- 
stroyed all the r hopes. 

Towards evesiing, when Napoicon no longer 
thought himself safe in a city, the rum of which 
seemed inevitable, he lett the Kremlin, and establish- 
ed himself, with his suite, in the castle at Peterskoe, 
When i saw him pass by, I could not, without ab- 
horrence, behold the chief of a barbarous expedi- 
tion, who evidently endeavoured to escape the decid- 
ed testinsony of public indignation, by seeking the 
darkest road. He sought it, however, in vain. On 
every side the flames seemed to pursue him, and their 
liorribie and mournful glare, flashing on his guilty 
head, reminded me of the torches of the Eumenides^ 
pursuing the destined victims of the furies ! 

The generals likewise received orders to quit 
Moscow. Licentiousness then became unbounded. 
The soldiers lio longer restrained by the presence of 
their chiefs, committed every kind of excess. No 
retreat was now safe, no place sufficiently sacred to 
afford any protection against their rapacity. Nothing 
more forcibly excited their avarice than the church 
of St. Michael, the sepulchre of the Russian enioe- 
rors. An erroneous tradition had propagated the be- 
lief that it contained immeiise riclieg. Some grena?- 



]>ioscow. 179 

f^ers presently entered it, and descended with torches 
into the vast subterranean vaults, to disturb che ppace 
and silence of the tomb. But, instead of treasures, 
they found only stone coffins, covered with pink vel- 
vet, with thin silver plates, on which were engraved 
the names of the ezars, and the date of their birth and 
decease. Mortified at this disappointment, they 
again searched every part of the building-, and at 
length perceived, at the end of a dark gallery, a lamp, 
the half-extinsTuished ligrht of which fell on a small 
altar. They immediately proceeded towards it, and 
the first object which presented itself to their nohce, 
Was a young female, elegantly dressed, and in the 
attitude af devotion. At the noise of the soldiers, 
the unhappy girl screamed violently, and tell i.jto a 
swoon. In that situation she was carried before one 
of our o^enerals. 

As long as I have life I shall retain the impression 
which the appearance of that young lady, pafe, and 
almost dying, produced on my mind. Her counte- 
nance, in which grief arid despair were equally legi- 
ble, was irresistibly interesting. As her recollection 
returned, she seemed to deprecate the care which was 
employed m recalling her to life. While we gazed 
on her lovely form, every bosom was inspired with 
pity, and we all were anxious to become acquainted 
with her history. The general, in particular, but 
from very different motives, seemed eager to hear it ; 
iand, sending most of those who were present away, 
J^e begged her to relate to him her misfortunes. 



180 MOSCOW. 

* Of wliat use,* said she, 'would it be to men- 
tion to von the wealth of a house, which will soon 
be annihilated ? Suffice it, that the name of my father 
is celebrated in the history of our empire ; and that 
he is now serving" with distinction in the army, which 
is gloriously fighting in defence of our country. My 
name is Paulowna. On the day preceding your en- 
trance into Moscow, 1 was to be united to one of the 
young- warriors, who had distinguished himself at the 
battle of Mojaisk. But amidst the nuptial solemni- 
ties, my father was informed that the French were at 
the gates of the city, and, suspending our marriage, 
and taking my husband with him, they hastened to 
join the army. Early on the following morning, be- 
ing with my afflicted family, we heard the roar of the 
cannon 5 and, the noise evidently approaching nearer, 
we no longer doubted that we must quit Moscow. 
In the midst of this dreadful tumult, I fled with my 
relations ; but, when we arrived near the Kremlin, an 
immense crowd met us, and, rushing hastily by, part- 
ed me from my mother and sisters, I endeavoured, 
in vain, to recall them by my cries. The noise of 
arms, and the cries of an infuriated populace, over- 
powered my feeble voice, and in an instant I was 
rendered truly miserable. The French, meanwhile, 
penetrated into the town, and, driving all before 
them, advanced towards the Kremlin. To find a 
shelter against their excesses, I, with many others, 
ran into the citadel, which was considered a place of 
security. As I could not mix with the combatants, 



MOSCOW, 18i 

I retired to the church of St. Michael, seeking refuge 
among the graves of the czars. Kneeliog near their 
sepulchres, I invoked the manes of those illustrious 
founders of our country, when, on a sudden, some 
wicked soldiers broke in upon my retreat, and drag- 
ged me away from an inviolable and sacred asylum.' 
When the unhappy girl had finished her history, she 
shed a torrent of tears ; and, throwing herself at the ge- 
neral's feet, implored him to respect her virtue, and 
restore her to her relations. He was more interested 
by her beauty than by her tears ; but, pretending to 
pity her misfortunes, he pledged himself to relieve 
them. He offered her his house as a protection ; and, 
to retain her there, he promised to use his utmost en- 
deavours to discover her father and her destined hus- 
band. But, as I knew the disposition of tlie man, I 
clearly perceived, that this apparent generosity was 
only a snare to deceive the innocent Paulovvna. There 
wanted nothing more to complete the horrors of that 
day, when he resolved to outrage virtue and seduce 
innocence ; and we afterwards found that neither no- 
ble blood, nor the candour of youth, nor even the tears 
of beauty, were respected. 

Penetrated by so many calamities, I hoped that 
the shades of night would cast a veil over the dread- 
ful scene 3 but they contributed, on the contrary, to 
render the eonflag-ration more visible. The violence 
of the flames, which extended from north to south, 
and were strangely agitated by the wind, ^produced 
the most awful appearance, on a sky which was dark- 
ened by the thickest smoke. Nothing could equal 



18^ MOSCOW, 

the ang'uish which absorbed every feeling- heart, and, 
which was increased m the dead of the nighl, by the 
cries of the miserable vjctims who were savag-el} mur- 
dered, or by the screams of the young females, who 
jBed for protection to their weeping mothers, and whose 
ineffectual struggles tended only to inflame the passion 
of their violators. To these dreadful groans and 
heart-rending cries, which every moment broke upon 
the ear, were added, the bowlings of the dogs, which, 
chained to the doors of the palaces, according to the 
custom at Moscow, could not escape from the fire 
which surrounded them, 

I flattered myself that sleep would for a while re- 
lease me from these revolting scenes ; but the most 
frightful recollections crowded upon me, and all the 
horrors of the evening again passed in review. My 
wearied senses seemed at last sinking into repose 
when the light of a near and dreadful conflagration, 
piercing into my room, suddenly awoke me. I 
thought that ray room was a prey to the flames. It 
was no idle dream, for when I approached the win- 
dow, I saw that our quarters were on fire, and that 
the house in which I lodged, was in the utmost dan- 
ger, bparks were thickly falling in our yard, and on 
the wooden roof of our stables. I ran quickly to 
my landlord and his family. Perceiving their danger,, 
they had already quitted their habitation, and had re- 
tired to a subterranean vault, which aflbrded them 
more security. I found them with their servants all 
assembled there, nor could I prevail on them to ieavfe 



^ SIOSCOW. 18^ 

it, for they dreaded our soldiers more than the fire. 
The father was sitting on the threshold of the door^ 
and appeared desirous of appeasing", by the sacrifice 
of his own life, the ferocity of those barbarians, who 
advanced to insult his family. Two of his daugh- 
ters, pale, with dishevelled hair, and whose tears ad- 
ded to their beauty, disputed with him the honour of 
the martyrdom. I at length succeeded in snatching 
them by violence from the asylum, under which they 
would otherwise soon have been buried. These un- 
happy creatures when they again saw the lifjht, con- 
templated with indifterence the loss of all their pro- 
perty, and were only astonished that they were still 
alive. Notwithslanduig they were convinced that ihey 
would be protected tVom all persorml injury, they did 
not exhibit any tokens of gratitude ; bui, like those 
wretches, who, having been ordered to execution, are 
quite bewildered, when a reprieve unexpectedly ar- 
rives, and the agonies of death render them insensi- 
ble to the gift of life. 

Desirous of terminating the recital of this horri- 
ble catastrophe, for which history wants expressions, 
and poetry has no colours, I shall pass over, in silence, 
many circumstances revolting to humanity, and mere- 
ly describe the dreadful confusion which arose in our 
army, when the fire had reached every part of Mos- 
cow, and the whole city was become one immense 
flame. 

A long row of carriages were perceived through 
flie thick smokf , leaded with booty. Being too heavir 



184 MOSCOW. 

ly laden for the exhausted cattle to draw them along', 
they were obliged to halt at every step, when we heard 
the execration of their drivers, who, terrified at the 
surrounding' flames, endeavoured to push forward, with 
dreadful outcries. The soldiers, still armed, were di- 
ligently employed in forcing open every door. They 
seemed to fear lest they should leave one house untou- 
ched. Some, when their carriages were laden almost 
to breaking down, bore the rest of their booty on their 
backs. The tire, however obstructing the passage of 
the principal streets, often obliged them to retrace 
their steps. Thus, wandering from place to place, 
through an immense town, the avenues of which they 
did not know, they sought, m vain, to extricate them- 
selves from this labyrinth of tire. Many wandered 
further from the gates by which they might have esca- 
ped, instead of approaching them, and thus became the 
victims of their own rapacity. In spite, however, of 
the extreme peril which threatened them, the love of 
plunder induced our soldiers to brave every danger. 
Stimulated by an irresistable desire of pillage, they 
precipitated themselves into the midst of the flames. 
They waded in blood, treading upon the dead bodies 
without remorse, while the ruins of the houses, mixed 
with burning coals, fell thick on then- murderous hands. 
They would probably all have perished, if the insup- 
portable heat had not forced them at length to with- 
draw into the camp. 

The fourth corps having received orders to leave 
Moscow, we proceeded (September 17th)s towards 



MOSCOW. 18a 

Peterskoe, where our divisions were encamped. At 
that niotiient, about the dawn oi day, 1 witnessed the 
most dreadful and the most afi'ectnio^ scenes which it 
is jfossiile lo conceive ; nameiy, the unhappy inhahir 
lants drawing upon some uiean vehicles all that they 
had been ab;e to save troui the cot.- tiap ration. The 
soldiers, having- rohbed them O: their horses, ihe 
men and wonien were slowly and paintuliy drai^gmg 
along these liitie carls, some of which contained an 
infirm mother, others a paralytic old man, and others 
the miserabe wrecks of haif-consumed furniture 5 
children, half naked, toilowed these interesting groups. 
Affliction, to which their age is commonly a stranger, 
was impressed even on their features, and, uhen the 
soldiers approached tiiem, they ran crying mlo the 
arms of their mothers. Alas ! what habitation could 
"we have offered them which would not constantly re- 
call the object ot their terror ? Without a shelter and 
without food, these unlortunate beiugs waiidered in 
the fields, and fled into the woods ; but, wherever they 
bent their steps, they met the conquerors of Moscow, 
who frequently ill-treated them, and sold before iheir 
eyes, the goods which had been staien from their own 
deserted iiabitations. 



24 



PART II. 



BOOK VL 



MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 



The arrival of a victorious French army in the 
ancient capital of the czars, in the richest and most 
central city of Russia, which a religious belief had 
hitherto considered as sacred, was one of the most ex- 
traordinary occurrences of modern history. 

Our former conquests had, for some years, accus- 
tomed Europe to behold our vast and most astonish* 
ing plans crowned with complete success. But, of all 
our expeditions, none had, like this, an appearance of 
imposing grandeur, calculated to seduce those who 
were fond of the marvellous; while the difficulty of 
the enterprise equalled every romantic tale that the 
Persians, the Greeks, or the Romans, had conceived. 
The distance from Paris to Moscow, nearly equal to 
that which separated the capital of Alexander from 
the residence of Darius; the nature of the country, 
and rigour of the climate, which had been hitheto 
supposed inaccessible to the armies of Europe; the 
recollection ot Charles XiJ. who, wislnng to attempt 



188 MATi^-J VROSLAVITZ. 

^ similar project, did not dare to pass Smotenkso ; \he 
terror of the Asiatic r»atio,!s, astonished to see the 
peojde who had fled before us arrive amongst them ; 
all, in short, coisciirred to g-ive to the progress of t tie 
grand army, an air of w mder, which recalled to o r 
recollection the most celebrated expeditions of anti- 
quity. 

Such was the aspect of our conquests, when ta- 
ken in the most brilliant poinl of view ; but, when 
sound reason had taui^hl us to h)ok into futurity, no- 
thing" presented (tsfctlf but the dai kestand mostfrij^ht- 
ful imag"es. The horrible extreaiity to which the 
inhabitants of Moscow had been reduced, proved to 
us, that we bad no means of treating with the people 
determined to make such immense sacrifices ; and, 
that the vain-g^lory of siguing' a treaty of peace at Mos- 
cow, had kindled a fire, the ravag^es of which would 
spread through Europe, and would 2^ive to the war a 
character so sanguinary, that it could end only in the 
entire ruin of a generous peo;de, or the fall of that 
evil genius, whom God, in his displeasure, seen»ed 
to have designed as a new exterminating angel to 
chastise mankind. 

The wisest and most judicious witnessed, with 
terror, the destruction of a cit\, which, within five 
days, had become a prey to the flames, and the light 
of which illuminated our camp every night. * There 
is no hope,' said they, • of a speedy termination of 

• the war, even should we still continue our con- 

* quests. Having compieted the rum of Moscow, 



ftfALO-JAROSLAVlTZ. 189 

* who knows whether we shaU not attempt that of 

* Petersbursj ? And even when we have subduf^d 

* all Russia, may we not uiticipate an exj>edition to 

* the Euphrates or the Gano^es ? Alas ! when a sove- 

* reig^n possesses only a rash vah)ur, which is not tem- 

* pered by wisdom, the brilliant lustre of his arms 

* readers him like those dang;erous meteors which 

* occasionally appear on the earth, and excite the 
' most serious alarm.' 

Althoug^h the ruin of Moscow was a g:ve^\ loss to 
the Russians, it was still more sensibly felt by us, 
and it ensured to our enemies all the advantages 
which they had promised themselves from the rigour 
of their climate. In vain did we represent to the in- 
habitants that the burning of their capital was useless, 
and that the French army ought to rejoice at being 
relieved from an immense population, whose natural 
ardour and fanaticism might have caused dangerous 
seditions. After much reflection, I am convinced 
that the Russian government had reasons to fear, from 
the crafty and treacherous character of our chief, that 
this population, instead of revolting against us, mii>ht 
have become nistrumental to our projects, and ttiafe 
many of the noblesse, led away by an example so 
dangerous, or seduced by brilliant, but deceitful 
promises, might have abandoned the interest of tljeir 
country. 

It was, doubtless, to prevent this calamity, that 
count Rastopchin sacrificed the whole of his fortune 
in burning Moscow, thmking that this great example 



190 MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 

would be lli8 only means of rousing- the enero;!es of 
thenobilitvj and, by rendering- us the objects ofu.eir 
execration, would excite in the minds of the people 
the most vio'ent hatred against us. Besides, the city 
being' provisioned for eight moijths, the French 
army, by occupying it, would have been able to -^ait 
the return of spring, and ihen renew the campaigsi, 
with the oraiies of reserve which were encamped at 
Smolensko, and on the Niemen ; while, by burnmg 
Moscow, they would compel us to a precipitate re- 
treat, in the most rigorous seasons of the year. 

Their hopes fousided on this calculation, could 
not be disappointed ; for our formidable army, though 
it arrived in the fiue seasons, had lost a third of its 
numbers, merely by the rapidity of our march ; and 
the enemy had no reason to fear that we could main- 
tain any position, since our want of discipline had 
made a desert of all our conquests, and our improvi- 
dent chief had formed no plan to facilitate our re- 
treat. 

In short, to finish this picture of our distresses, in 
the midst of our apparent victory, the whole army was 
discouraged and worn out with fatigue. The cavalry 
was nearly ruined, and the artillery-horses, exhausted 
by want of food, could no longer draw the guns. 

Although we were the dejiorabie vicrims ofihe 
coisflagration of Moscow, we must do justice to the 
inhabitants of that city. It is impossible not to ad- 
mire I heir g>neroos devotedness to their country, 
and we umsi acksiowled^e that they have, like the 



MATiO-JAROSIiAVlTZ. 191 

Spaniards, raised themselves, by their courage and 
then- oerseverance, to that high degree of true glory 
which constitutes the oreatness of a nation. 

When we recollect the sufferings that we had 
endured, and the losses* we had experienced by 
fatigue alone, prt^vious to our arrival at Moscow, and 
that at a tune whe i the earth, covered with its choic- 
est productions, otered us abundant resources, one 
cnn scarcely coaceive how Naf)oleon could be so 
bhnd and obstinate as not immediately to abandon 
Russia; particularly when he saw that winter ap- 
proached, and that the capital, on which he had so 
much depended, no longer existed. It seems as if 
divine Piovidence, to punish him for his pride, had 
deprived him of reason, since he presumed to think 
that they who had had sufficient courage to lay waste 
and destroy their country, would afterwards be weak 
enough to accept his hard proposals, and sign a 
treaty of peace on the smoking ruins of their city. 
They who possessed the smallest foresight, predicted 
our misfortunes, and imagined that they read on the 
walls of the Kremlin, those prophetic words which 
an invisible hand traced before Belshazzar, in the 
midst of his greatest prosperity : — 

» The fourth corps, when we set out from Glogau, consist- 
ed of about forty eight thousand men, but when we left Mos- 
cow, there were only twenty thousand infantry, and two thou- 
sand cavalry. The fifteenth division, consisting of thirteen 
thousand men at the commencement of the campaign, was thea 
reduced to four thousand. 



J 92 MALO-JAROSLAVITZ* 

* God hath numbered this kingdoyn and JinisJied 

* it ; thou art weighed in the balance andjouna wunt" 

* ing ; thg kingdom is divided, and given to other 

* hands,* 

During the four days (17, 18, 19, and 20, Sep- 
tember) that we remained near Ptlerskoe,* Moscow 
did not cease to burn. I.i the mtantmie the rain 
fell in torrents; and the houses near the chateau, be- 
ing- too few in number to contain the numeroas 
troops who were encamped there, it was alaiost im- 
possible to obtain shelter: men, horses, and carriageSj 
bivouacked in the midvlleoftht; ti Ids. The staii» 
officers, placed around the chateaux where their 
generals resided, were estabiished in the English 
g'ardens, and quartered under grottos, Ciiiiiese pa- 
vilions, or grten-houses, whilst the horses, tied under 
acacias, or linden-trees, were separated irom each 
other by hedges or beds of flowers. Ttiis camp, 
truely picturesque, was rendered still more e\traor- 
dinary by the new costume adopted by the soldiers; 
most of whom, to sl»elter themselves from the incle- 
mency of the weather, had put on the same clothing 
which used to be seen at Moscow, and which formed 
the most pleasing and amusing variety on the public 
■walks of that city. Thus we saw, walking in our 
camp, soldiers dressed a la Tartare, a la cosaque, a 
lu Chinoise ; one wore the Polish cap, anothei toe 
high bonnet of the Persians, the Baskirs, or the Kal- 

ii This imperial chateau, of which we have already spokeB 
18 but a quarter of a league from Moseow. 



MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 193 

liiouks. In short, our army presented the image of 
a carnival ; and from what followed, it was justly said 
that our retreat commenced with a masquerade, and 
«nded with a funeral. 

But the abundance which the soldiers then en^- 
joyed, made them forget their fatig-ues ; with the rain 
pouring on their heads, and their feet immersed in 
the mud, they consoled themselves with good cheer, 
and the advantages which they derived from trafiic- 
ing in the plunder of Moscow. Although it was 
forbidden to go into the city, the soldiers, allured by 
the hope of gain, violated the order, and always re- 
turned loaded with provisions and merchandise. Un- 
der the pretence of going on marauding parties, they 
returned near the Kremlin, and dug, amongst the 
ruins, where they discovered entire magazines, 
whence they drew a profusion of articles of every 
description. Thus our camp no longer resembled 
an army, but a great fair, at which each soldier, me- 
tamorphosed into a merchant, sold the most valuable 
articles, at an inconsiderable price ; and although 
encamped in the fields, and exposed to the incle- 
mency of the vi^eather, he, by a singular contrast, ate 
off China plates, drank out of silver vases, and pos- 
sessed almost every elegant and expensive article 
which luxury could invent. 

The neighbourhood of Peterskoe, and its gar- 
dens, at length became as unhealthy as it was incon- 
venient. Napoleon returned to ©Btablish himself at 

•?.5 



1^4 MALO-JAROSL4TIT2. 

the Kresnlin, which had not been burnt, and the 
gnards and staff-oncers received or lers to re-enter 
the city (the 20th and '21st of September;. Accord- 
in <r to the calculations of the engineers, the tenth 
part of the houses still rem lined. They were divi- 
ded between the different an-ps of the ^rand army. 
We possessed the faubour^- of St. Petersburg-, which 
we had at our first entry into the city. O.i re-enter- 
ing* the city, we experienced the most heart-rending 
sensations, at perceiving that no vestige remained of 
those noble hotels at which we had formely been 
established. They were entirely demolished, and 
their ruins still smoking, were scattered in such con- 
fusion, that we could no longer distinguish even the 
outline of the streets. The stone pvtlaces were the 
only buildings which preserved any traces of their 
former magnificence. Standisig alone amidst piles 
of ruins, and blackened by smoke, tbis wreck ofa 
citv, so nevcly built, resembled some of the venera- 
ble remains of ant qnity. 

Each one endeavoured to find quarters for him- 
self, but rarely could we meet with houses which 
joined together; and, to shelter some companies, we 
were obliged to occupy a vast tract of land, which 
only offered a few habitations scattered here and there. 
Some of the churches compossed of less combustible 
materials than the other buildings, had their roofs 
entire, and were transformed into barracks and sta- 
bles. Thus the hymns and holy melodies, which 
^ad once resounded within these sacred walls, now 



MAILO-JAROSLAVITZ. 195 

g-ave place to the neighing' of horses, and the horrible 
blasphemies of the soldiers. 

Curious to know in what state I should find the 
house at which I had lodged, I long sought for it in 
vain, until a neighbouring church, which had sur- 
vived the general destructioi, enabled me to ascer- 
tain it. I could scarcely believe that it was the same. 
The interior was entirely consumed, and the four 
walls alone remained, which weie full of chinks, 
owing to the fierceness of the fire. I was reflecting' 
on the terrible effects of this destructive element, when 
the unfortunate servants of the house made their ap- 
pearance iVom the bottom of a vault. Emaciated 
by famine and distress, I should doubtless have found 
their features much altered, if the ashes and smoke 
had not rendered them totally unknown to me. They 
reseml)led spectres more than human beings. But 
what were my sensations when I recognized my 
former host amongst these miserable wretches. He 
was concealed under the rags which he had borrowed 
from his domestics. They now lived all together, 
for misfortune had equalized every condition ! On 
• seeing me, he burst into tears, particularly when h© 
presented to me his children, half naked and dying 
with huns^er. Although his grief was silent, it made 
a deep impression on my heart. He told me by 
signs that the soldiers, alter having plundered his 
dwelling whde it was burning, had also robed him 
of the very clothes which he wore. This distressing 
picture touched me to the souL I wished te ali«vi» 



196 MALO-JAHOSLAVITZ. 

ate his sufferings, thoug-h J feared I hf^d only barrea 
consolation to offer. The same man who a lew days 
before had given me a splendid repast, accepted with 
gratitude a morsel of bread. 

Although the population of Moscow had entirely 
disappeared, there still remained many of those un- 
fortunate beings whom misery had accustomed to 
look on all occurences with indifference. Most of 
them took shelter in cabins which they had them- 
selves constructed in the gardens or public walks, 
W:ih planks half burnt, which they had collected 
from the ruins. There were also a number of un- 
forfunate gir!s, and these alone derived any advan- 
tage from the plunder of Moscow. The soldiers 
eayerly associated with them, and when they were 
once introduced into our quarters, they soon became 
absolute mistresses of them, and squandered away 
all that the flames had spared. A small number, how- 
ever, really merited our regard by their education, 
and above all, by their misfortunes ; for horrible to 
re] Hie, famine and misery had compelled their mo- 
thers to come and offer them to us. This immora- 
lity, under such circumstances, recoiled on those who 
bad not sufficient virtue to resist the temptation, and 
who regarded with an eye of passion the forms which 
hunger had emaciated, and disease had rendered dan- 
gerous and loathsome. 

Of all these victims, the most to be lamented, and 
the most worthy of pity, was the unfortunate Paulow« 
na, whose history I have already related, and whoj, 
deceived by an apparent generosity, had been we^k 



MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 197 

enough to place unlimited confidence in the general 
who had received her. This man well knew how to 
deceive his innocent captive, by his assiduities and 
false pity 3 and, by feigning sentiments vi'hich he 
never knew, and taking advantage of the impossibi- 
lity of discovering her parents or her lover, he per- 
suaded her that she would find in him a friend and a 
protector. On the faith of repeated promises, this 
innocent female, after having Sjient several days in 
unavailing^ tears, become a victim to the artifices of her 
ungenerous lover. Alas ! the general was already 
married, and she, who had expected to become his 
wife, found herself only a dishonoured slave. 

There yet remained at Moscow a class of men, 
the most contemptible of all, since they escaped the 
punishment due to their former crimes by consenting 
to commit still greater : these were the galley-slaves. 
During the whole time of the conflagration at Moscow 
they signalized themselves by the audacity with 
which they executed the orders they had received. 
^Provided with phosphorus, they lighted the fire anewj 
wherever it appeared to be extinguished, and even 
crept by stealth into the houses which were inhabited, 
to involve them in the general ruin. 

Several of these abject wretches were arrested 
with torches in their hands ; but their punishment, 
too prompt and summary, produced little effect (24th 
September). The people, who always detested their 
conquerors, regarded these executions merely as the 
effect of policy. In short, these victims were too ob- 
scure for the expiation @f suck a crime; and, aboyg 



19S MALO-JAROSIiAVITZ. 

all, their trial wanting" publicity and leg-al form, threw 
BO light on ihe cause of this dreadful calamity, and 
couid not justify us ciearly in the estimation of the in- 
habitants. 

When we entered Moscow, the Russian troopa 
fell back on the grand road of Wladimir; but the 
greater part of their army having descended the 
Moskwa to go to Kolomna, totik up their position 
along the river. It is said thul this very army, fol- 
lowed by the whole population, in tears, passed, a 
few days after our arrival, under !;he wails of Mos- 
cow, while the city was still bnrning. Ti;e march 
of the troops was illuminated by the light of the fire ; 
and ihe wind, blowing with violence, even carried 
into the ranks some of the ashes of their capital. 
Notwithstanding such accumulaied misfortunes, the 
troops observed the greatest order, and maintained a 
profound silence. Such resignation, at the sight of 
a spectacle so melancholy, gave to this oiarch a so- 
lemn and religious air. 

When the main body of the Russian army had 
taken its different positions, the proprietors of the 
country in the neighbourhood of Moscow, perceiv- 
ing that the disasters of the war had highly exasperat- 
ed the people against us, availed themselves of the po- 
pular feeling to excite a general insurrection against 
the common enemy. Many raised levies at their 
own expense, and put themselves at the head of their 
insurgent peasants. These forces, united to the cos- 
sacks, intercepted our convoys on the great roads. 
But the prmcipai aim of these military preparatiene 



MALO-JIROSLAVITZ. 191> 

fPHs to harass our forng-ers, and, above all, to deprive 
Ihetn of the resources which they were still abie to 
procure from the neig'hbouruig- villages. 

Iti dig-g-ing- under the ruias of Moscow, the sol- 
diers often found magazines of sug-ar, of wine, or of 
brandy. These discoveries, aUhough thev woiiid 
have been valuable in happier times, afforded no great 
relief to an array which had consumed all the grain 
of the country, and which would soon have neither 
bread nor meat to eat. 

Our cattle perished for want of forage, and, to 
procure others, it was each day necessary to engage 
in combats, always disadvantageous to us ; fo •, at so 
great a distance from our native country, the smallest 
loss was sensibly felt. 

Our real misery was disguised by an apparent 
abundance. We had neither bread nor meat, yet our 
tables were covered with sweet-meats, syrups, and 
dainties. Coffee, and all sorts of wmes, served in 
china or crystal vases, convinced us that luxury 
might be nearly allied to poverty. The extent aud 
the nature of our wants rendered money of little 
Talue to us, and this gave rise to an exchange rather 
than a sale of commodities. They who had cloth, 
offered it for wine; and be who had a pelisse could 
procure plenty" of sugar and coffee. 

Napoleon buoyed himself up with the ridicu^ou* 
hope of reclaiming, by mild proclamations, those- 
who, to free themselves from his yoke, had made 
their capital an immense funeral-pile. In order t© 
seduce them, and inspire theiu with coiifiue-.jeej he 



200 MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 

had divided the remains of the town into districts, 
appointed governors for each, and instituted magis- 
trates, to render to the few citizens who still remain- 
ed, the justice which was their due. The consul- 
general Lesseps, appointed governor of Moscow, 
published a proclamation, to announce to the inha- 
bitants the paternal intentions of Napoleon. These 
kind and generous promises, however, never reached 
the Moscovites ; and, even if they had, the rigorous 
circumstances under which they were placed, would 
have made them regard the proclamation as insulting 
irony. Besides, the greater part had fled behind the 
Volga, and the others, who had taken refuge in the 
midst of the Russian array, animated by a deadly ha- 
tred, breathed only sentiments of vengeance ! 

Ib the meantime prince Kutusoff, having con- 
veyed the greater part of his forces to Lectaskova, 
between Moscow and Kaluga, to cover the southern 
provinces, so narrowly confined Napoleon, that, in 
spile of his different manoeuvres, he could not disen- 
gage himself from his painful position, but was al- 
ways constrained to fall back on his own lines. It 
was impossible to advance towards Petersburg with- 
out leaving the Russian army on our rear, and en- 
dangering our safety, by abandoning all communica- 
tion widi Poland. 

He could not march towards .laroslaw and Wla- 
dimir ; siiice every undertaking in that direction 
would only divide his troops and remove him further 
from his re&ources. CoDsequently nolhiog could be 
more critical than the situation of the French army. 



MALO-J^AHOSLATITS, 201 

mow encamped on the roads of Twer, of WlvAd.mir^ 
of Raz'dn, and of Kaluga. 

Onr head- quarters continued at Moscow, the 
neighbourhood of which was become highly infec- 
tious. It was indeed totally deserted, except by the 
peasants and the Cossacks, who, overrunning th® 
country, plundered our convoys, intercepted our cou-^ 
Tiers, massacred our foragers, and caused us irrepa- 
rable evils. From that time our position became 
more and more pamful. Our poverty and the dis- 
content of the soljiiers, augmented every day ; and^, 
to complete our misfortunes, there appeared no proba- 
bility of a peace. 

It would be carious ta relate the extravagant pro- 
jects which, under these circumstances, were dis- 
cussed m the army. Some spoke of going to the 
Ukraine— others of marching on Petersburg. But 
those who were wise, mamtained that we ought, ere 
long, to return to Wiln.\ Napoleon, always most 
obstinate when surrounded with difficulties, and pas- 
sion<itely fond of extraordmary exploits, persisted in 
maintaining hmiself in an absolute desert, and 
thought to frighten the enemy, by feigning to pass 
the winter there. To give some colour to this ridi- 
culous stratagem, he formed the plan of arming the 
Kremhn, and even of making a citadel of the large 
prison which was situated in the quarter of Peters*- 
burg, and vulgarly called the Square Il&use j and, to 
complete the folly and absurdity of the whole, when 
every magazine was exhausted, and we kad nothing; 



MALO-J'AROSLAVITZ. 

to eat, he ordered us to make provisions for tW4i 
months. While we were occiipied in meditatiuof on 
ail these chicneras, and particulnrly on provisioning- 
Moscow, without any resource, the report of pe .ce, 
beheved by those alone who so ardent'y deswed it, 
filled oar hearts with joy, and fl ittered us with the 
hope that we should not be compelled to attemtt the 
executio . of projects absolutely impracticable. This 
news acqun-ed much credit from tlie arsnistice which 
had bee^i concluded between the cossacks and the 
advanced posts of the king* of Naples, buch a con- 
vention seemed to aug'ur that there might be some 
hope of a reconcdiation between the two emperors t 
especially as we knew that general Lauriston had 
been sent to the head-quarters of prince Kntusoffj 
a;. d that, in consequence of his interview with this 
commander, a courier had been despatched to St. 
Petersburg-, to decide on peace or war. 

In the ssieantime Napoleon, with his usual acti* 
vily, daily reviewed hjs troops, and, by the severest 
proclamatiorss, obliged the colonels to maintain the 
strictest discipline throughout their regiments. The 
weather, toonr astonishmeii^ contained remarkably 
fine, and contributed much to the brilliancy of these 
reviews. A circumstance so rare, in this advanced 
seaso!!, was regarded as a jihenomenon by the Mos- 
covHes, who, accustomed to see it snow from the 
month of October, beheld with surprise the beautiful 
days vvijieh we enjoyed. The people, iialurally su- 
perstitious, and who had lo;,g and anxiously exjiecied 
the wniler, as tlieir certain avenjjer, iinpaueutl^V 



<MALO-JAROSLATITZ. ;2()f 

despaired of the assistance of Providence, and beg-ari 
to consider this prodigy as the effect of tlse maniiest 
protection which the Almii»hty had affortled to Na- 
poleon. But this apparent protection was precisely 
the cause of his ruin, as it rendered him so infatuated, 
as to believe that the climate of Moscow resembled 
that of Pans. His foolish aud impious vanit;* made 
hiai hope to command the sea!>oi;s as he had comman- 
ded men ; and, abusing his good fortune, he believ- 
ed that the sun ot Austerhtz would enlighten him even 
unto the pole, and that, like another Jobhua, he would 
be able, by his vuice, to arrest this luminary in its 
course, and compel it to protect him in his ambitious 
career. 

While we were deluded by the protracted nego- 
ciation, preparations were made to reconsmence the 
war, but nothing was done to guard against the ri- 
gours of winter. Meanwhile our prospects became 
more alarming. The longer our slay at Moscow was 
continued, the more inconvenient and uncomfortable 
it became. In proportion as we exhausted the neigh- 
bouring villages, we were compelled to go to places 
more remote. Their distance rendered ©ur excur- 
sions as perilous as they were iatiguing. Setting out 
at break ot day, rarely did our ioragers return beiore 
night. Tisese excursions, daily repeated, harassed 
our men, and destroyed our cavasry, particularly the 
artillery-horses ; and, to complete our wretchedness, 
the audacity of the cossacks redoubled in proportion. 
as our weakness rendered us tietenceiess. 



MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 

As a proof of it, they intercepted, in the very ea- 
virons of Moscow, a convoy of artillery, coming 
from yiazma, and conducted by two majors. Napo- 
leon believed that these officers were culpable, and 
instituted an inqnirv respectiniaf their conduct. One 
of them destroyed himself, more from the dis|^race 
of having- lost his cannon, than the fear of being- 
found g-uilty. To prevent simii-)r losses, Bronssier's 
division and the light cavalry, commnnded by count 
Ornano, received orders to establish themselves in 
the environs of the chateau of Galitzin, situated be- 
tween Mojaisk and Moscow. These troops deliver- 
ed the neighbouring comitry from the cossacks, who 
alwavs avoided meeting them. But Ihe smallest spot, 
unoccupied by our troops, was immediately taken 
possession of by these hordes of Tartars, who piofit^ 
ed b}^ the advantages which their knowledge of the 
country afforded them, to attempt the boldest enter- 
prises. 

They made another attack on a convoy of artil- 
lery, coming from Italy, under the orders of major 
Vives. It was reported that the escort, having taken 
to flight, surrendered to the cossacks, almost without 
opposition, the artillery which had been intrusted to 
it. The enemy earned off the field pieces and the 
horses, when count Ornano, informed of this attack, 
pursued the cossacks, and overtook them in the mid- 
dle of the woods. At the sight of our cavalry they 
lied, and abandoned all the fruits of their victory, 
•^/ithout resistance. Major Yiv^s would have beea 



MAI.O-JAHOSLAVITZ. 20i 

brongfht to trial ; but our departure, and the disasters 
which ensued, forced JNTapoleon to relax from his ac- 
customed severity. 

While the fourteenth division guarded the road 
from Viazma, the thirteenth was on tliat ot Twer. 
This last division occupied some excellent canton- 
ments, when we were informed that count Saltikof, 
the favourite of the emperor Alexaiidt^r, and proprie- 
tor of the village of Marfino, in the neighbourhood 
of Dimitrow, had armed all his peasants, and that, 
having entered into combination with several other 
lords, he was forming in his chateau a grand scheme 
of insurrection. To prevent the couhequences ot so 
dangerous an example, orders were given to a bri- 
gade of the thirteenth division to repair to the cha- 
teau de Marfino, The general wlio commanded it 
made strict enquiries to convince himself tiiat these 
meetings had really taken place. The result was un- 
satisfactory and fruitless; nevertheless, obliged to 
conform to the orders which he had received, he com- 
mitted to the flames a palace which had been justly 
celebrated as one of the finest in Russia. This pre- 
tended meeting caused a suspicion that Napoleon had 
only wished to revenge himself on count Saltikof, to 
whom he was an enemy, because that nobleman had 
continued laithful to his sovereign. 

The various manoeuvres which the differeist corps 
of the army were obliged to make, contirmed us in 
the opinion that we should not long be able to main-? 
tain opr position. Every thing presaged our ap-. 
proaching departure, and sMspiciuH was changed intQ, 



too MAIiO-JABOSLATlTS, 

cerfamty on perceivings that the cavalry of the Italian, 
guards qiiitted their g^ood cantonments in the envi- 
rons of. Dimitrovf, to return to Moscow ; and pro- 
ceeded thence to occupy the position of Charopovo, 
(L>ih October), a little villag^e, situated on the road 
from Borovsk, about six leagues from Moscow. At 
the same time the viceroy ordered the thirteenth di- 
vision to return, the fourteenth to advance, and the 
cavalry of general Ornano tp march towards Fomin« 
skoe, whither it appeared that the whole of the fourth 
corps was about to direct its course. The cossacks^ 
informed of this movement, availed themselves of 
the oppoilunity, when the baggage of our light ca- 
Talry w as feebly escorted, to attack the convoy in the 
neighbourhood of Osighovo ; but, seeing general 
Broussier's division, they abaiidoned a part of their 
booty, and, sheltered by the woods, escaped the pursuit 
©f our soldiers. 

We waited with the utmost anxiety the return of 
the courer which hud been despatched to Petersburg, 
Persuaded that the answer would be favourable, our 
army negiected the isecessary precautions, and ima- 
gined itself in the most perfect security. The ene- 
my, profiting by this indiscretion, attacked on the 18th 
of October, the cavalry of the king o( Naples, in the 
vicinitv of Taroutiua, and surprised a park ot twenty- 
six pieces of cannon, which they carried off. This 
attack, made at the moment when the cavalry was 
foraging, was fatal to that division of the army, which 
bad been already much reduced. The few who re- 
named, ^tiil continued to iac© th@ eneniy ; antl, sup-- 



|>orte<l by s<»me Polish reoimetits, who were less fa- 
tigued tha'i ours, succeeded in recoverin:^ the pieces 
which the eiiemy hfid captured. General Bd^awout, 
who com Handed the fourth Rassiau co'-os, was kil- 
led in the action : and ofeneral Benniiisen was wound* 
ed. We lost leariy two thousand me;j ; and we par- 
ticularly regretted the death of g-eaeral Dery, aid-de- 
Camp of the king of Naples, who had on every occa- 
sion given proof of the greatest courage, and the 
highest talents. 

The emperor was at the Kremlin, occupied itii 
reviewing his troops, when he received this unex- 
pected news. He ininiediately became furious, and, 
in the transports of his rage, exclaimed, that it was 
treacherous and infamous ; that ihey had attacked the 
king of Naples in comtem^jt of all the laws of war, 
and that none but barbarians would have thus vio- 
lated a solemtj converttion. The parade was imme- 
diately dissolved, all hopes of peace vanished, and 
the order for our departure was given that very eve- 
ning. All the corps were to quit Moscow, and take 
the grand road to Kaluga. We then hoped that w« 
should go to the Ukraine, to seek, under a milder 
sky, cousitries less savage and more fertile. But 
those who were best informed, assured us that our 
movement on Kaluga was only a false manoeuvre, to 
conceal from the enemy our design of retreating on 
Smoiensko and Witepsk. 

Those who did not witness the departure of the 
French army from Moscow, can form but a faint 
idea of what the Greek and Boman aritaies were, 



20S MALO-JA.ROSLAVITX. ' ' 

when they abandoned the ruins of Troy or of Car- 
tha^y^e. But they who observed the appearance of our 
army at this moment, acknowledged the accuracy of 
those iatere-itiiig sceaes whicb are so admirably de- 
iscribed in the writing's of Vir^rjl and Livy. The 
long' files of carria.i;es, m three or foar ranks, exte d- 
ed for several leagues, loaded wtth the immense boo- 
ty which the soldiers had snatched tVom the flames ; 
and the Moscovite peasaiits, who were now become 
our servants resembled the slaves wfi.ch the ancients 
drag-ged m their train. Others carrying" with thetn 
their wives a.id chtUireii, or the prostitutes whotn 
tht^y had found at Moscow, represented the warriors 
among-st whom the captives had been divided. Af- 
terwards came nusiierous wagons filled with tro- 
phies, amon'4' which were Turkish or Persian stand- 
ards, torn froai the vaulted roofs of the palaces of the 
czars, and, last of all, the celebrated cross of Saint 
Iwan gloriously closed the rear of an army which, 
but for the unprudence of its chief, would have been 
enabled to boast that it had extended its conquests to 
the very limits of Europe, and astonished the people 
of Asia vi'ith the sound of the same cannon with 
which the pillars of Hercules had re-echoed. 

As we set out very late, we were obliged to en- 
camp at a miserable village, only one league from 
Moscow. The cavalry of the Italian guards, which 
still remained at Charopovo, marched on the follow- 
ing day (I9di October) and joined us at Patoutinka, 
not far from the chateau of Troitskoe, where Napo- 
leon had eatabiished hi« head-quarters. jNearl^ the 



MALO-JAROSLAVII^. ^0§ 

\vhole army was re-united at this point, with the ex- 
ception of the cavalry which was in advance, and the 
young- g-uards who remained at Moscow to brinor' up 
the rear. We experienced much difficulty in procu- 
ring the means of subsistence, but we still continued 
to bivouac; and llie carriages which every officer? 
brought with him, furnished us with some provisions. 
On the following' day, the cavalry of the royal 
guards were to have directed their course towards 
Charopovo, as well as the whole of the fourth corps ; 
bat at the moment when they were commencing theif 
march, they were recalied, and the prince ordered 
these troops to pursue the same route which we had 
followed the preceding evening. We crossed the 
Pakra near Gorki. This beautiful village no longer 
existed but in name ; and the river, choked up with 
the ruins of the houses which had l)een a prey to the 
flames, flowed in a black and muddy stream. Above 
"was the beautiful chateau of Krasnoe, which had been 
entirely pillaged ; but the elegance of the building still 
formed a striking contrast with the rustic hiils on 
•which it was built. Arrived on this pouit, we halted, 
and an hour afterwards left the high road to seek on 
our right a path which wouid conduct us to Fomins- 
koe, where general Broussier and our cavalry had 
been for four or five days in view of the enemy. Our 
march by this unfrequented road was very tedious 
and painful, but it procured us the advantage of find- 
ing some villages, which, although they were desert- 
e(i, had not been so completely plundered as those ©r 



21© MALO-JAROSLAVlTZ. 

the great road. We passed the night at Tnatowo, 
where, we discovered a chateau, situated on an emi- 
nence which overlooked the country by which we 
had arrived. 

We afterwards continued our march, with an in- 
tention- to regain the road to Charopovo, which we 
at length reached, near the village of Bouikasovo. 
These geographical details, on which I dwell so much, 
will not appear tedious, when it is recollected that 
they are absolutely necessary, in order to point out 
the difficulties which we had to encounter in our ope- 
rations. Having only incorrect maps, and marching 
without Q^uides, we could not even pronounce the 
names of the villages described on our charts ; but 
having at length discovered a peasant, we seized 
him and kept him for two days, but he was so stu- 
pid that he only knew the name of his own village. 
This march was, however, very important for the 
emperor, who followed us with the main body of the 
army; the prince, therefore, made me every day draw 
out a plan of the road, to send to the major-general. 

Having surmounted every obstacle, we regained 
the old road of Kaluga. In one hour afterwards we 
arrived at Fominskoe. Broussier's division was en- 
camped in the environs of this village, and the caval- 
ry, placed in advance, were led on by the viceroy, 
who, without delay, proceeded to reconnoitre the 
height which the cossacks occupied ; but at his ap- 
pearance they immediately »'etired, leaving his high- 
ness at liberty to encamp peaceably on the ground 
for which we had expected to iight. 



MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. £11 

According" to the military report, the position of 
Formmskoe would have been advantageous for the 
Russians, if they had resolved to defend it. Through 
the middle of the village, overlooked by a hill, ran the 
river Nara, which, towards this point, owing to the 
contraction of the valley, tormed a little lake, sur- 
rounded by marshes. The whole army had to pass 
this defile, and to cross a single bridge. This, how- 
ever, was reserved for the carriages, and another con- 
structed for the infantry. 

In order to e?.ecute this operation, and to permit 
a part of the army to pass over before us, they al- 
lowed us a day of repose (22d October.) During this 
time, the Poles, commanded by prince Poniatowski, 
marched on Vere'ia, where the Hetman PiatofF was 
with his Cossacks. Napoleon soon followed us with 
his accustomed suite, and in an instant the village 
was filled with carriages, horses, and men. But, ow» 
ing to the skilful precautions which had been adopt- 
ed, all this passed without confusion ; a circumstance 
which excited not a little astonishment, for the ca-r 
horts of Xerxes^ had not more baofg^aofe than we. 

The same day captain Evrard, who had been de- 
spatched to Charopovo, announced to us that he had 
heard a tremendous report in the direction of Mos- 
cow. We afterwards learned that it had been pro- 
duced by the blowing up of the Kremlin. The de- 

* An expression which Napoleon made use ©f in the bulle- 
tins of the campaign of 1809, when speaking of the Austrian 



2ia MALO-JAKOSLAVITZ, 

struclion of this noble citadel, and of the mag-nificetit 
buildings which it contained, was accomi^l'shed by 
the young imperial guards, who, on quitting Mos- 
cow, were ordered to destroy every thing that the 
flames had spared. Thus perished this celebrated 
city, founded by the Tartars, and destroyed by tlie 
French! Enriched with every gift of fortune, and 
situated in the centre of the continent, she experien- 
ced from the passions of an obscure and remote isl- 
ander the most lamentable of human vicissitudes. 
The historian will not fail to remark, that the same 
man who affected to sacrifice us to promote the pro- 
gress of civilization, boasted in his own bulletins, 
that he had caused Russia to retrograde, at least a 
hundred years.* 

A part of the army having crossed the Nara, the 
fourth corps followed them a! *out five o'clock in the 
morning (23d October) and proceeded towards Bo- 
rovsk. The enemy appeared no more during this 
day's march. The cossacks had fled before us, doubt- 
less, to announce to the general-in-chiei, that we had 
deceived his vigilance by leavirig the new road to 
Kaluga through Taroutina, and taking the old one 
"which passes by Borovsk. 

The enemy, informed of our march, immediate- 
y abaado.ied his intrenched camp at Lectaskova, 
but left us in doubt whether he would take the road 
by Borovsk, or by Maio- Jaroslavitz. INapoleon oc- 
cupied the former city, situated on an eminencj^; 

^ Bee th<^ bailetios of the eampaiga in {Inssia. 



MALO-jAllOSLAVi*Z. 218. 

m 

,aro«nd wltich ran the Piotva in a deep and inacces^- 
sible channel. 

The viceroy, who had encamped half a league 
beyond Bo ovsk, in a little village on the right of the 
road, ordered Delzon's division to march on Malo- 
Jaroslavitz, and occupy that position before the Rus- 
sians could seize on it. This general having found 
it without defence, took possession of it, with only 
two battalions, leaving the rest of his troops in the 
rear on the plain. We consequently imagnied that 
this position was secure, when on the following 
morning (24th October) at day-break, we heard a 
heavy cannonade in our front. The viceroy, sus- 
pecting the cause of it, immediately mounted his 
horse, and, accompanied by his staff, galloped towards 
Malo-Jaroslavitz. On approaching this city, the noise 
of the cannon redoubled ; we heard the sharp-shoot- 
ers on both sides, and at last we distinctly perceived 
the Russian columns, who were advancing by the 
new road of Kaluga, to force the position which we oc» 
cupied. 

On arriving below the heights of Malo-Jarosla- 
vitz,* general Delzons came towards us, and, ap- 
proaching the viceroy, said to him, ' Yesterday eve- 
ning, on my arrival, I took possession of this place, 
and no one then appeared to dispute it with me, but^ 
about four o'clock in the morning, I was attacked by 
a large body of infantry. Immediately the two bat- 
talions flew to arms, but, overpowered by a much sn*' 

^ ^ee the plan of the field of battle of Malo-Jaroslavitz. 



S14 MA"LO-JABOSIiAVITZ. 

perior force, they have been compelled to descend 
from the heights, and abandon Malo- Jarosiavitz.* 

The viceroy, feeling the importance of this loss, 
aEd wishing immediately to repair it, gave orders to 
general Delzons to march, with his whole division. 
An obstinate engagement now commenced, and fresh 
troops having arrived to the assistance of the Rus- 
sians, our soldiers, for a moment, gave way. Gene- 
ral Delzons thinking they were about to fly, rushed 
into the thickest of the battle, in order to reanimate 
them ; but, at the moment whew he was defending 
with obstinacy the barriers of the city, the enemy *s 
sharp-shooters, intrenched behind the wall of a ceme- 
tery, fired upon him, and a ball enteriitg his forehead, 
he fell, and immediately expired. The viceroy, on 
being informed of this sad event, appeared to be much 
tgiffected at the loss of a general so worthy his esteem : 
and, after having paid a just tribute to his memory, 
sent general Guilleminot to replace him. He also 
ordered the fourteenth division to advance, and re- 
lieve those who had been so long engaged. Oar 
soldiers now resumed the offensive, when several 
fresh columns of Kussians coming from Lectaskova, 
forced them to retreat. We saw them descending 
the hill with precipitation, and making towards the 
brido"e, as if they wished to repass the river Louja, 
which ran at the foot of the eminence. But shortly 
afterwards our brave men, rallied by colonel Fores- 
tier, and seeing themselves supported by the chas- 
seurs and grenadiers of the royal guards, resumed 
their accustomed courage, and once more aseentled 



MALO-JTAHOSIiAVITZ. 215 

Ihe hel splits. In the meantime, a great number of 
wounded who had abandoned the field of battle, and, 
above a]l, the difficulty with which we maintai led 
ourselves in Malo-Jaroslavitz, Gonvincecl the viceroy 
of the necessity of sending" other troops ag"ainst the 
continual reinforcements of the enemy. Pino*s di- 
vision, which, during' the whole of the campaign, had 
sought for every opoortunity of distinguishing' itself, 
obeyed, vi^ith transport, the orders of the prince. They 
rapidly ascended the heights, with their bayonets fix- 
ed, and uttering- shouts of joy, succeeded in establish- 
ing themselves in all the positions whence the er.emy 
had driven us. This success, however, was dearly 
purchased. A great number of brave Italians were 
the victims of their emulation of French valour; nor 
was it without sincere regret that we heard of the 
death of general Levi6, whom fate permitted to en- 
joy his new rank only eight days. We were equally 
afHicted, on beholding general Pino returning- cover- 
ed with blood ; who, though he suffered much from 
the pain of his wound, felt still more sensibly the 
death of a brother who had fallen by his side. During 
this time, the enemy's cannon raged with fury, and 
his balls, carried destruction into the ranks of the 
royal light troops, placed in reserve, and even amongsJ; 
the staff of his highness. It was at this moment that 
general Gifflenga, a man of great merit, and extraor- 
dinary courage, received a ball in his throat, which 
obliged him to quit the field of battle. 

The success of the day was decided, and we ac- 
cupied the town, and all the heights, when the :^ftk 



^16 MAI.O-JAR0SLAVIT2. 

division of the first corps joined ns, and took np *lieir 
position on oar left. The third division of the samei 
corps arrived also after ihe battle, and occupied a 
"wood Oil our rig-ht.* Until, nine o'clock in the eve- 
iiins^, oar batteries and foot-soldiers did not cea-.e 
their firing, at a very short distance from the eneni}; , 
but, at iengih, night and excessive weariness put an 
end to this sanguinary combat. It was, however, 
nearly ten o'clock before the viceroy and the staff 
were able to take the repose which was necessary, 
after so many fatigues. We encunped beneath Ma- 
lo-Jaroslavitz, between the town and the river Louja ; 
bat the troops bivouacked through the whole extent 
of the positions which they had so glorously carried. 

The next day we were convinced that the obstina- 
ey with which the Russians had disputed our posses- 
sion of Miilo-Jaroslavitz, was in consequence of their 
intention of effecting a movement on our right, in or- 
der to arrive at Yiazma before us, well j ersuaded that 
our march on Kaluga was only a manoeuvre, with the 
desisra of concealing^ our retreat. About four o'clock 
in the morning, the viceroy mounted his horse. We 
ascended the eminence on which the battle had been 
fought, when we saw the plain covered with cossacks, 
owhose light artillery was firing oh our troops : we a!= 
so observed on our left three grand redoubts. On 
Ihe preceding evening each of them had mounted 
fifteen or twenty pieces of cannon, with which they 
defeaded the right Hank of Katusoff, supposing that 

^ See the field of battle of iVIalo- JaroslaTitz, 



MALO-JAROSLAVll^; SI*? 

we should have attempted to turn his position on that 
side. About ten o'clock the firing abated, and at 
twelve it entirely ceased. 

The interior of Malo-Jaroslavitz presented the 
most horrid spectacle. On entering" the town, we 
beheld with grief the spot where general De»zons had 
perished, arid regretted that a premature death had 
terminated his glorious career. We did equal jus- 
tice to the memory of his brother, who received a mor- 
tal wound, whde endeavouring to rcvscue him from 
the hands of the enemy. A little, further on they 
showed us the place where general Fontane had been 
wounded ; and at the foot of the hill, we saw the 
grenadiers of the thirty-fifth regiment of the line, 
■who were bestowioo' funeral honours on their brave 
eoionel. 

The town where we had fought no longer remain- 
ed. We could not even distinguish the iine§; of tie 
streets, on account of the numerous dead bodies with, 
which they were heaped. On every side we saw a 
mullitude of scattered limbs, and human heads, crush- 
ed by the wheels of the artillery. The houses form- 
ed a pile of ruins, and under their burning ashes ap- 
peared many skeletons half consumed. Many of 
the sick and wounded had, on quitting the field of 
battle, taken refuge in these houses. The small num- 
ber of them who had escaped the flames, now pre- 
sented themselves before us, with their faces blacks 
ened, and their clothes and hair dreadfully burnt. In 
the most piteous tone, they besought us to afford them 
some relief, or kindly to terminate their sutferings 
2S 



218 MALO-JAROSLW^Tf;^ 

by (leatli. Tbe most ferocious were affected at this 
sad spectacle, asid, tiirnino- hastily away, could not re- 
fra'n from shedding- tears. This distressing- scene 
made every one s udder at the evils to which despo- 
tism exposes humanity, and we almost fancied that 
tho^^e ha barous , times were returned, when we cou'd 
only appease the j^ods, b}' offering human victims oa 
their sano-uusary altars. 

Towards the afternoon. Napoleon, having* arrived 
with a numerous suit, coolly surveyed the field of bat- 
tle, and heard, without emotioM, th.^ heart-rending^ 
cries of the unhappy wounded, who eagerly demand-, 
ed assistance. But this man allhough accustomed 
for twenty years to the calamities of war, could not, 
on entermg the town, re{)ress his astonishment at the 
desperation with which both |>arties must have fought* 
Even had he intentied to continue his march on Tu- 
la and Kalug-a, the experience of this b:<tt!e would 
have deterred him. O.i this occasioii, even his insen- 
sibility was forced to render justice to those whom 
it was due. He gave a convincing- proof of it by 
praisng the valour or ihe fuvu'th corps, and sayjngto 
the viceroy, * The honour of this glorious day be- 
longs e.itirely to \ou.' 

While we were d!S,>uting with the enemy the po- 
sition of Maio Jaiosaviiz, uiore than six thousand 
Cossacks uiiexpecteiily rushed on the head-quarters 
of the emperor, established at Ghorodnia, and carried 
off six pieces of cannon, which were posted not far 
from the village. The duke of Istria immediately 
galloped alter them with all the cavalry of the guards^ 



. MAIX)-JAI'OSLAVlTZ. 219 

and succeeded in retaking the artillery. The cos- 
sacks, cut to pieces aud dispersed, effected their re- 
treat ; but in their flig-lit, oue of their numerous de-, 
tachments attacked the hag-g-aoe of the fourth corps, 
and would have captured it, it the cavalry ofthe Ita- 
lian g-uards had not received tiiem with the same in- 
trepidity as the imperial guards. The coolness of 
Joubert, who commanded the escort, was much prais- 
ed in this affair. Seated in his carriage, he had the 
resolution not to stir from it, but drew his sword on 
the Cossacks, who surrounded him, and defended 
himself till he could obtain assistance. 

From the commencement of the campaiii^n, the 
son of the Hetman Platoff', mounted on a superb white 
horse, from the Ukraine, was the faithful companion 
in arms of his brave father, and always at the head 
of the cosSacks. He was often remarked by our ad- 
vanced guards, on account of his courage and mtre- 
pidity. This fine young man was the idol of his fa- 
ther, and the hope of the warlike nation which ex- 
pected hereafter to obey him. But Destiny had pro-'' 
nounced his doom, and the fatal hour was at hand. In 
a desperate charge of cavalry, which took place neat 
Vereia, between prince Poniatowski and the Hetman 
Platoff*, the Poles and Russians, animated by a mu- 
tual hatred, fought with fury. Excited by the ardour 
of the combat, they gave no quarter, and on both 
sides fell numerous brave men, who had returned in 
safety from former battles, Plaloff', who saw his best 
soldiers falling around him, forgot his own danger, 
and, with an anxious eve^ looked round for his f«" 



^SO MAXiO-JAROSLAVITE. 

yourit * sen But the moment approached when this 
pnfortuiiate father was destined to feel that life is 
sometimes almost insupportable. The unhappy 
youth had returned from the heat of the baUls, and 
was preparing to renew the attack, when he received 
a mortai wou »d from a Hulati Poleo 

At this moment his father appeared, and flying; to 
In's assistance, threw himself upon him. On seeuig 
bis beloved paresit the son heaved a deep sigh, and 
'^'ould have expressed, for the last time, his affection 
^nd his duty 3 but, as he attempted to sjjeak, his strength 
faiietl him, and he breathed his last. In the mean- 
time, Platoff, who could not restrain his tears, retired 
to his tent, to give vent to his ieeling's. Li the first 
burst of ag-onj he considered life a burden, and could 
no longer eiuiure the light. The following morning, 
^* d iy-bnak, the chiefs ©f the cossacks came to ex- 
jres!s their grief, and earnesliy to request that they 
nsrghl be permitted to render fuoeral honours to the 
son of their Heiman. Every one, on seeing this 
brave vonng man stretched on a bear-skin, knelt 
spontaneousi^, and respectfully kissed the hand of a 
youth, who, but for a premature death, would have 
equalled the greatest heroes, by his valour and by his 
virtues. After having, according to their ritual, of- 
fered fervent prayers for the repose of his soul, they 
removed him from the presence of his father, and 
carried him in solemn procession to a neighbouring 
eminence covered with cypress? where he was to be 



MALO-JAROSLAVIlMg. £2 1 

The cb sacks, standing- around, all ranged in or- 
der of baUl*. obsserved a religious silence, a.sd bow- 
ed their heads m profound respect, while grief vi'as 
painted in ever- coiuienanceo At the moment when 
the earth was fo ever to &e|)arate them from the son 
of ti.eir prince, ; hey iired a volley over the grave. 
Afterwards holdu.ji iiieir horses ui their hauds, tbev 
slowly and soleiTsnly inarched round the tomb, with 
their iajices pomteu towards the earth. 



BOOK Til. 



DOR0GHOBO¥L 

TptB victory of Milo-Jaroslavitz discovered two 
melancholy truths : — Hrst, that the llissians, far from 
ben^ weakened, had bee \ reinforced by numerous 
battalions, and that fhey all foug-ht with an obstinacy 
which mide us despair of gaining" new victories. 
* But two baltles more like this/ said the soldiers, 
*aiid Nai5oleoii will be without an army.' It like^ 
wise disovere.l that we coal I ao longer effect an ea-^ 
sy retreat, siuce the enemy, having at the close of the 
engag'sment outfla iked us, preveated our columns 
from retiring by the route of Medouin, Joukhnov, and 
JElnia, and reduced us to the unhappy necessity of 
retreating precipitately by the great road of Smo- 
lensko, or in other words, by the desert which we 
ourselves had made. Beside these apprehensions, 
too Wi41 founded, we aiso knew that the Russians 
had despatched before us the army of Moldavia, oa 
the very route which we were to pursue, and that the 
•orps of Wittgenstem was advancing to join that army. 
Alfer this sanguinary combat, those who judged 
only from appearances and popular report, supposed 
tkiit we should march on Kalag;a ani Tula; but when 



'324 330TlOGHO"8OUi 

thev saw tliat a strong- aclv;incef\ graH of 'lip en^my^ 
instead of taking" that direction, had outHauke ; omf 
rio'ht by defiling on Medoain, all who we^'e ex ■••«.- n=- 
enced in warlike maiiceuvres verce ve#l that tbf K s* 
sians had penetrated the desifyns of Napoleon, and 
that it was aecessary for ns to make a ranid uiarcl- on 
Viazma, to arrive there before them. Th^re wa« jio 
lo'isxf^r a«iy question of KaUiga or the Ukraine, biit 
liovv to efTect a safe retreat on the route ofBori^^sk^ 
As soon as 05ir retreat was decide!, the fourlh corps 
beeran its retrograde mtirch, leavino- a i the first corps, 
and the cavalry of general Cuastel. at Jaroslavitz. 
These troops were to form the rear-guard, at the dis- 
tance of a day's march from os, 

(October 2'i1th.) We saw on onr roufe to what 
the unfortunate and memorable victory o^ Malo-Ja- 
roslavitz had reduced us. At every step were wag- 
gons abandoned for want of horses so draw them, 
and the fragments of innumerable mi itary carriages 
burned for the same reason. With snch misforfunes 
at the very commencement of oor ret'eat, we form- 
ed sad and mournful presages of the uture. Those 
who c;vrried with them the spoils of Moscow, trem- 
bled for their riches. We were priuc pally disquiet- 
ed at seeing the deplorable slate of he feeble re- 
mains of our cavalry, and we listened with melancho- 
ly foreboding to the frequent explosions of our am- 
iiiunitioij-waggons, which souaded from afar like dis- 
tant 'thunder. 

It was night when we arrived at Ouvarooskoe. 
*^urprised at seeing the place in fiumes, we were in- 



BOROGHOBOUr. 2M 

formed that orders had been issued to destroy every 
thing in oar rouie. Near this village was a chateaUf 
which, although in the centre of a wood, possessed a 
grandeur and mag .iaceiice eqia! to the notdest pala- 
ces of Italy. The richness of the furniture corre- 
sponded with the beauty of the architecture. We 
saw there many exquisite paintings, chandeliers of 
the greatest value, and numerous lustres of rock- 
crystal, which gave to these apartments, when light- 
ed up, an appearance truly enchanting. Even these 
were not spared ; and we learned, on the morrow, that 
Our artillery-men, finding the progress of the flames 
too slow, had hastened and completed the destruction, 
bv placing several barrels, filled with gunpowder, oa 
the grou.d floor. 

The villages, which a few days before had aiFord- 
ed us shelter, were now level With the ground. Un- 
der their ashes, yet wunn, and which the wind drove 
towards us, were the bodies ol hundreds of soldiers 
and peasants. Manv an iidant was to be seen cruelly 
butchered, and man) a female savageiy massacred on 
the spot which ha s witnessed her violation. 

We left the vdiage ol Borovsk, which had been 
equally a prey to the flames, on our right, to reascend 
the Protva, and find a ford for our artillery. Having 
discovered one, half a league from the village, it 
would have been att,em;jted by all our corj^s, but 
many of the waggons, sticking fast in the middle of 
the river, so much encumbered the only spot at which 
a passage there was practicable, that it was necessary 
to search for another ford. On reconnoitring the 

29 



226 looRoesHOBotri. 

bridg-e o^Borovsk, I found that it still ri^mained, and 
that it oiTered s^reat facility for carrying' over theba^- 
gag-e. Immediately the prince caused the third di- 
vision to fall back, and thus, b, means of the bridye, 
opened to ouv corns a better and a shorter route. The 
only dang"er which we had to fear, was the passage of 
the wag-g-ons laden with amnounition, through a town 
completely in flames. 

The fourth corps filed across this vast confiagratioii 
without a single accident, and after havig- passed 
throug-h njanv triohtful deciles, the night found us at 
the execrable vilJag-e of Alf<6r6va (Oct. 27th,) where 
the generals of divsion with difficulty found a barn to 
shelter them. That of the viceroy was so ruinous, 
that we jjitied those who were destined to inhabit it. 
In addition to all Uiese evils, the want of provision 
asrg'''ivated our sufferings. That which we had 
brouoht from Moscow, was almost consumed, and 
everv one, covetous of the little that remained to 
li -n, retired to eat in secret the morsel of bread 
wbu'h his indu trv had procured. Our horses fared 
vet worse. A 'iti'e ihatch. torn from the roofs of the 
i]<(5)fi<?^s, wfSs their only food. Many of them died of 
fati^yiie an<l hunger, o!)1igin^ the artdlery to abandon 
a!l h it v.^iis not absolutely necessary; and every day 
redo.ibled, in a frightful manner, the exj>losions of 
the wagiions, which were blown up and destroyed, 
(October 281 h). 

On the following day we recrossed the Protva a 
little below Vereia. This town was burning at 
the moment of our passage; and the devouring 



DORO&HOBOWr. , t€7 

flames rising in whirlwinds on every side, soon re- 
duced it to asi^esv Vereia was tlie more aidbrtn- 
nate, siiice, lying at a distance from the great road, 
she had flattered herself that she might escape the 
calamities by which she was surrounded. In truth, 
with tiie exception of the engagement between the 
Kussiaus aiid tne Poles, she had hitherto experienced 
iittie of the horrocs of war. Her lielus had tsot 
been ravaged, and her Wfil-cuitivated gardens were 
now c vered with vegetabies of every kind, which 
our famisijed soidiers devoured in an instant. At 
night we siept at a wretciied village, of which we 
couUi not learn t!se name. We supposed that it was 
Mslia^va, because we were ouly a league from Gho- 
rodok- Borisov. This place was yet more miserable 
thati the hamlet at which we had halted the nljrht 
before. The greater part of the officers passed the 
night in the open air, which was the more unpleas- 
ant, as the nights began to be extremely cold, and 
little wood could be procured. Even the huts 
■which the genera's had hastily erected, were demo- 
lished b) the soldiers to supply a few scanty tires ; 
aiid many who went to sleep in comfortable cabins, 
on waking in the middle of the night, found that the 
sky was then oniy covering, 

Napoieon, who preceded us one day's march, had 
already passed Mojaisk, burning and destroying 
every thing which he fouisd on his route. His sol- 
diers were so intent on this devastation, that they set 
fire even to the places where we should have halted. 
This exposed us to great and unnecessary sutienng | 



42S i>OROGHOEOUI. 

but our corps, in its turn, burned the few houses 
that the others had left, and deprived the ara«y of 
the prince of Ecknauhl, which formed the rear-guard, 
of all power to shelter itself from the inciemenc} of 
the nig^ht. Th it corps had likewise to contend with 
an exasperated enemy, which, learning our retreat, 
hastened on ever}? side to avenge itself. The cannon 
which we heard every dav, and at distances cot. tinu- 
allv diminishiiig, sufficiently annomsced to us the 
fatigues, the sufferings, and the dangers, of that divi- 
sion of the army. 

At length, having- passed 'through Ghorodok-Bo- 
risov (October 29lh), in the midst of almost impe- 
netrable clouds of 5-moke, we entered, an hour after- 
wards, on a plain which appeared to have been long 
Since devastated. We saw at a distance the dead 
bodies of n en a; d horses : but thenumeious iiitresch- 
nients, half destroyed, the asj ect ot the run ed town 
recalled to our menories the environs of iVJojaisk, 
through which we had passed as conquerors, hfty-one 
days before. The Poles encamped upon the rui;>s, 
and at their departure burnt the few houses which had 
escaped the first conflagration ; but the destruction had 
been already so complete, tl at we could scarcely see 
the light of the flames. The only thing which struck 
us was the newiy erected tower, rismg amid the 
ruins, and, by its whiteness, forming a nie^aiicholy 
contrast with the black clouds which enveloped it. 
It remained entire, and the clock yet tolled the hours, 
though ihe city was no moreo 



POROGHOBOVI. 229 

Our corps did not pass tbroug^b Mojaisk, but^ 
turning to the left, we arrived (October 2i>tb) at the 
site of the village of Krasnoe, where we bad slept at 
the day after the battle of the Moskwa : I say the site 
of the villi'iff'e, lor the houses existed no longer, and the 
chateau alone had been preserved for the use of JNapo- 
leon. We encamped round the chateau, and, as 
long as I live, [ shaH recollect how, pierced with the 
cold, we crowded together, and slept with comfort 
on the yet warm ashes of the houses thai had been 
burned the day before. 

(October 30th. j The nearer we approached to 
Mojaisk, the more desolate the country appeared. 
The fields, trampled down by thousands of horses, 
seemed as though they had never been cultivated. 
The forests, cleared by the long continuance ot the 
troops, partook likewise of the general desolation. 
But most horrible was the multitude of dead bodies, 
which, deprived of burial fifty-two davs, scarcely 
retained the human form. On arriving at Borodmo, 
my consternation was inexpressib-e, at finding the 
twenty thousaiid men, who had perished there, yet 
lying exposed. The whole plain was entirely cover- 
ed with them. None of the bodies were more than 
half buried. In one place were to be seen garments 
yet red with blood, and bones gnawed by dogs and 
birds of prey ; in another were broken arms, drums, 
helmets, and swords. Fragments of standards lay 
scattered thick around, and, from the emblems with 
which they were adorned, it was easy to judge how 



^ 



jfnoch the Russian eag-le had suffered on that bloody 
day. 

On one side we saw the remains of the cottag'e at 
which Katusoff had encamped ; aad more to the left, 
the famous redoubt. It vet fro^vned threatei]in2:ly 
over the plain. It elevated ilself like a pyrnmid in the 
midst of a desert. When I mused on what it bad 
heen^ and what it then was, I thought that I saw Ve- 
suvius in repose. Perceiviug a Soulier on the sum- 
mit, at the remote distance his immovable figure 
had the effect of a statue. * Ah !' I exclaimed, * if 
^ ever a statue is consecraied to the demon of war it 
^should be placed on this pedestal.' 

As we traversed the field of battle, we heard, at 
a distance, a feeble voice appealing to us for succour. 
Touched by his plaintive cries, some soldiers, ap- 
proached the spot, and, to their astonisiiment, saw, 
stretched on the ground, a French soldier with both 
his legs fractured. * I was wounded,' said he, *on 
the day of the great battle. I fainted from the 
agosy which I endured, and, on recovering my 
se jses, 1 found myself in a desolate place, where 
no one could hear my cries, or afford me relief. 
For two months, f daily dragge^i myself to the brink 
of a rivulet:, where I fed on the grass and roots, and 
some morsels of bread, which 1 found among the 
dead bodies. Atni^ht 1 ia.d m} self down under the 
shelter of some dead horses. To day, seeing you at 
^ distance, I summoned all my strength, and happily 
crawled sufficiently near jour route to make myself 
heard.' While the surrounding soldiers were ex« 



390RO©HOBOUI. 231 

pressings their surprise, the general, who was inform- 
ed of an occurrence so sing-ular and so touching, plac- 
ed the unfortunate wretch ia his own carriage. 

My history woulvl far exceed the bounds pre- 
scrihed, were I to recount all the calamities which 
th'it atrocious war produced. I will relate one circum- 
stance aloiie, from which my readers may jndg-e of 
the rest. Three thousand prisoners were brought 
from Moscow. Having^ nu'hins; to ffive them during 
their march, they were at night driven into a narrow; 
fo'd like so many beasts. Without fie, and without 
food, they lay on the bare ice, and to ass'iage the 
hunger which tortured them, those who had not the 
courage to die, nightly fed on the flesh of their com- 
panions, whom fatigue, misery, and famine, had de- 
stroyed. 

But I turn from a picture so shocking, and pur- 
sue the course of my narrative. I shall soon have 
horrors enough to describe, which fell to the lot of 
my friends and my comna:,ions in arms. 

We repassed the Kologha, with as much precipi- 
tation as we had formerly crossed it under the auspi- 
ces of victory. The steps which conducted to the 
river were so steep, and ihe frozen earlh so slippery, 
that men and horses cont<uuuiiy fell over each other. 
Happy would it h;n'e been for us, if the passaoe of 
other rivers, so often multiplied upon us, had not been 
even more dangerous than this. 

We saw again the abbey of K.olotskoi. Despoil- 
ed of its former splendour, and surrounded by ruins, 
it resembled more an hospital than a convent. It wa« 



23S DOROGHOBOtrr. 

the only liou^e which had been spared since our re- 
treat from Moscow. It was s;^iven to the sick and 
wounded, who wished to breathe their last in its peate° 
ful asylum. 

Tiie fourth division, fonuini^ always the advanc- 
ed-guard, halted at a miserdble village, situated h;!f 
a leag'ue to the right of the road, between the abbey of 
Kolotskoi, and Prokofevo. O. all Ihe places of repose 
at which we hid hitherto slopped, this was the most 
intolerable. Nothing remained but some wretched 
sheds, and thethUch had be n torn from the roofs to 
give to the half-faMU^hed horses. Here, however, 
the prince aiid his staff were constrained to pass the 
night. 

On the morrow (October 3lst.) we commenced 
our march at an early hotw, and >eing arrived at the 
heicrhts of Prokofevo, we heard the sound of cannon 
so near us, that ihe viceroy, fearing the prince of 
Eckmuhl was pushed by the enemy, halted on one of 
the heights, and drew up his troops in order of battle 
to succour him. For some days, many persons had 
complained of the slowness with which the first divi- 
sion marched. They had blamed the system of re* 
treat by echelons, adopted by the commander-in-chief, 
saying that it had lost three days' march, and thus had 
enabled the advanced- guard of MUoradowitch easily 
to overtake us. Finally, they alleged that he ought 
to pass rapidly over a country which did not afford 
the means of subsistence. He might have repSied, in 
his own justification, that too rapid a retreat would 
have redoubled the auaacily of the enemy, who, strong 



DORO&BOBOUI^ 286 

in lig"ht cavalry, could at all times overtake us, and 
cut in pieces our rear-guard, if it had refused the 
combat. He could have added this maxim of war ; 
■ — The more precipitate a retreat, the more fatal it 
becomes, because the fear which it occasions in the 
minds of the soldiers, is more to be dreaded than any 
physical evils. 

The viceroy had made these dispositions on the 
heio-hts of Prokof^vo, to succour the prince of Eck- 
muhl, but soon understanding that that marshal was 
oily harassed by the cossacks, he continued his 
march towards Ghiatz, always taking care that his 
divisions marched in the greatest order, and halting-, 
whenever it was possible that the prince of Eckmuhl 
could want his suppert. It is impossible to give too 
much ;)rais- to prince Eugene, for his conduct in 
these c.al circumstances. He was always the last 
of his column, and he now bivouacked a league on 
this side Ghiatz, that he might be ready the more 
promptly to repel the attack of the enemy. 

The night which the prince and his staff passed 
here was the severest to which they had been expos- 
ed. They halted on a little hill, near the place where 
formerly stood the village of Ivachkova. Not one 
house remained 3 the whole hamlet had been long 
since destroyed. To complete their sufferings, a vio- 
lent and piercing wind arose. Not a tree afforded 
them shelter, and nature, in depriving that situation of 
wood, had refused the only resource which could mit- 
igate the severity of the climate of Russia, 
30 



2S4 BOROGHOBOVr. - 

Allliongli our own suiTeriug-s were tlms great, we 
were rjot msensibie to those which oureneiniesendu ed. 
On approachirsg Ghiatz in the morning', we feii the 
sincerest regret when we perceived that the whole 
town had disapfseared. We should have searciud for 
it in vain, had it not beea for the ruins of a few houses 
of stone, which showed that this had once b'^en a place 
of human habitation, and that we were not wandernig 
amid the remains of a forest consumed by fire, 
r^ever were cruelty and revenge pushed so far. Ghi- 
atz, consiructed entirely of wood, disappeared in a 
day, and left its former inh sbilants, and even its ene- 
mies, to regret the fail of its industry, and the destruc- 
tion of its prosperity. It was the most commercial 
and flourishing town in Russia. It coiitamed masiy 
excellent manufactories ot cloth and leather, and fur- 
nished the Russian navy with considerable quantities 
of tar, cordaue, and marine stores. 

The weather, which was {)iercingly cold in the 
night, was beautiful during the day ; and the troops, 
though almost worn out by their suiferings, and ex- 
posed to , rivations of every kind, were fuii of cour- 
age, and eager to meet the enemy. All seemed to 
feel that their only safely consisted in manfully strug- 
gling with the difficulties by which they were sur- 
rounded. They had, for maiy days, been reduced 
to subsist on horse-flesh : even the generals had begun 
to share the same food. The mortality of these ani- 
mals was then regarded as a fortuiiate circumstance ', 
and, Without this resource, the soldier would have 



DOROGHOBOUI. 285 

inucli more severely experienced the horrors of fa^ 
mine. 

(November \sL) The cossacks, whose approach 
we had dreaded, no longer delayed to realize our fears. 
Hitherto, while they had not been seen, the soldier 
marched with his accustomed coi.fidence, and the 
baggage-waggoiis, feebly escorled, v ere soiiumerous, 
that they formed many distinct convoys, at conside- 
rabie distances from each other. Near the ruined vil- 
lag"e of Czarevo-Saimich^ was a causeway, about five 
hundred feet long-, where the g-reat road formerly 
passed. The passage of the arldiery had so worn it, 
that it was no longer practicable, and to coiitinne the 
rouie, it was necessary to descend i.;to a marshy mea- 
dow, cut by a large river. Tue waggons, wh ch went 
first, easdy passed over the ice ; but this, at lenotb, 
being broken by the multitude which thronged over, 
it became necessary, either to expose themselves to 
the greatest danger in attempting to ford the river, or 
to wait while some wretched bridtjes were construct- 
ed in haste. In the meantime, the head ol the co- 
lumn being thus arrested, fresh carriages continually 
arrived. Artillery, baggage-waggons, and suttiers' 
carts, all crowded one on another, and the drivers, ac- 
cording to their custom, profitted by the momentary 
delay, to light their fires, and to chafe their limbs be- 
numbed with cold. While all was in this imagined se- 
curity and complete confusion, on a sudden, the cos- 
sacks, uttering the most frightful cries, rushed from 
a thick wood on our left, and precipitated themselves 
on these poor wretches. Ail were panic struck a 



236 130I10GH0B0UI. 

their sigrht, and almost unconscious of what they did. 
Some ran to the woods ; others fled to their carrias^es, 
and, lashing- their feeble horses, g^alloped in confu- 
sion over the plain. These were most to be pitied. 
The rivu!els, the marshes, the slipperiness, or the 
breaking of the ice, soon arrested their progress and 
left them an easy prey to their pursuers. They were 
most fortunate who, taking advantage of the nume- 
rous cavriao-es, intr^^nrhed themselves 1 ehind them, 
and awaited that deliverance which was not slow in 
arriving ; for, as soon as the cossacks perceived the in- 
fantry advancing upon them, they retreated, after 
having wounded a few of the drivers, and pillaged 
some of the ammunition wagfgfons. 

7^he soldiers, to whom the care of escorting or 
conducting the baggage was entrusted, profited by 
the disorder which the presence of the cossacks ex- 
cited, to pillage and destroy what they had sworn to 
defend. From that time dishonesty and theft spread 
themselves so rapidly and so u iversally through the 
army, that we were scarcely more secure amongst 
our own soldiers, than we should have been in the 
Hiidst of the enemy. Whatever the soldiers took a 
fancy to, they availed themselves of some opportuni- 
ty to purloin ; and, encouraged b\ the impunity with 
which they set all discipline at defiance, they procUf 
rcd more frequent opportunities to pillage, by indus- 
triously spreading false alarms. 

The royal guard was clearing the defile of Cza- 
revo-8aimicli6 when the baggage was attacked. It 
immediately received orders to lialt^ and while it rest- 



DOROGHOBOUI. 33^' 

edonitsarms^ we saw the cossacks on our left, not 
two hundred paces from us, reconnoitring our situa- 
tion. It Wr\s even said, that, profiting- by the inter- 
vals which sabsi> ed between some of our divisions, 
they frec(aently crossed our route. But their brava- 
does, exercised with success on the followers of our 
camp, had no effect when attempted against the reg-ii- 
lar troops. When the ro\ai guard saw the cossacks 
thus hovering on their flanks, they no longer contmu- 
ed their mai'ch, but halted by a wood not far from 
Y^litschevo. The other divisions, encamped near 
the viceroy, who remained constantly in the rear, 
since the Kussians appeared so determined to harass 
oar retreat. 

(November 2d.) On the morrow, three hours 
before day, we abandoned this position. Our noc- 
turnal march was truly terrifying. The night was 
fearfully dark, and, afraid of running one against 
another, we were compelled to grope along our way 
■with a slowness which gave us fud leisure to indulge 
in the most melancholy reflections. In spite of our 
precaution, we often fell into the ditches on each side 
of the road, and were precipitated into the deep ra- 
vines by which it was intersected. At length our 
impatience for the dawn became insupportable. We 
hoped that its cheering light would render our march 
less painful, and would protect us from the ambushes 
of an enemy, whose accurate knowledge of the coun- 
try gave it a fatal advantage in all its manoeuvres. 

We were assured, indeed, that we should soon 
be attacked. Those who were acquainted with the 



238 JDOROGHOBOUI. 

country, feared the position of Yiazma, because they 
knew that, near that city, the road from Medouin, 
which [>art of the Russian army had taken after the 
battle of ;\ia!o-Jaroslavitz, and which was sbortei- 
than ours, joined the great road. 1'hey aiso regard- 
ed the cossacks, who had appeared on the preceding 
evening, as the advanced-goard ot the immeruus ca- 
vah-y of P at off, and the two divisions of general Mi- 
loradowitch, which would suddenly burst upon us 
near Viazma. 

Our pioneers, and the equipas^e of the viceroy, 
were oisly a league from that city, and nothing yet 
betokened the presence of the enemy. In the mean- 
time, that prince being in the rear-guard with the 
first corps, and perceiving that the distance between 
the two extremities of his column hazarded the safe- 
ty of the army, ordered the troops which were in ad- 
vance to halt. In that interval, colonel Labedo^^re, 
aid-de-camp to his highness, arrived from Yiazma. 
On hearing the dangers to which that officer had been 
exposed, v.e doubled not timt on the morrow we 
should be compelled to force our way with the point 
©f thebayoiiet. 

The viceroy halted at Foedorovskoe, although 
he was expected at Yiazma. The divisions of the 
army encamped around him. At his right, facing 
the enemy, were the Poles, a little in front of the 
first corps, which, though it was the rear-guard, yet 
having been sharply pressed, was but a short distance 
from us. Prince Eugene had indeed slackened his 
march to form a janctioii with them. 



DOROGHOBOUI, 239 

(November 3d.) Our divisions were on the march 
at six o'clock on the following" morning". As we ap- 
proached Yiazma, and our bag"gage was already in 
tlsat oty, the co«sacks showed that they were indeed 
near us, by commencing" a sudden and violent attack. 
The w:i;j-goas, however drew up round a little church, 
until the arrivai oi our troops put the enemy to flight. 
But when thes;e troops attempted to contnme their 
march, the first bri^-ade of the thirteenth division, 
commanded by gt^neral Nagle, which formed the 
rear-guard of our part of the arriav, was attacked on 
its ieit flank, a league and a half from Viazma. Nu- 
merous squadrons of Kussian horse issued from the 
very road which we had dreaded, and threw them- 
selves into the space which separated the fourth corps 
from the first. The viceroy jterceiving the danger 
of his situation, suddenly halted his divisions, and 
recalied his arliilery, thai the weli-du'ected lire of the 
batteries might check an enem}^ ad whose manoeu- 
vres tended effectually to cut off our retreat by pos- 
sessing themselves of Viazma. 

Whde these divisions executed divers evolutions 
to frustrate the plans of the Russians, they were follow- 
ed by the first corps, and we remarked, with regret, 
that these troops, worn out, no doubt, by uuheard-of 
sufferings, and incessant combat, had lost that doe 
subordination, and undaunted courage, which we had 
so often admired. The soldiers were regardless of 
discipline, and most of them being won sded, or sink- 
ing under fatigue, increased the crowd of mere camp- 
followers. 



,#4y DOHOGHOBOtJI. 

The foai'th corps was thus left for a cousiderable 
time, to sustain alone, not Oiily the charge of a nu- 
merous cavalry, but also the reiterated attacks of a 
body of Russian infantry, consisting of more thuii 
twelve thousand men. The first corps, howev* r, 
having- filed off behind os, to the righ^ of the road, at 
length took a position on the left of the same rond, 
between Viazma and the point of attack, and thus re- 
lieved the troops of the fourth corps, which the vice- 
roy had caused to advance, at the beginnnig of ts e 
action. These were now enabled to occupy some 
advantageous positions, which they found at the rtght 
of the road, and thas, conjointly with the first corps, 
were ready to receive the attack, which the Russians 
again threatened. 

Our fourteenth division, which had been in front 
of the thirteenth, suffered that division now to pass it, 
and relieved it by becoming the rear-guard. The 
fifteenth which had followed the fourteenth, remain- 
ed with the royal guard, near Viazma, as a reserve. 
The order of battle being thus arranged, the enemy's 
infantry advanced, and the engagement commenced 
with considerable warmth, but with a decided supe- 
riority in artillery on the part of the Russians. The 
miserable state of our horses would not permit us to 
manoeuvre our pieces with much celerity, it was in 
this engagement that colonel Banco, aid-de-camp to 
the viceroy, and commandant of the second regiment 
of Italian horse-chasseurs, had his head carried off by 
a cannon-ball. 



X>OIlOGH0BOtni?t 241 

Our troops, notwitbstanding' their inferiority^ 
Hiaintaiaed their positions long enough for the bag- 
gage to pass through Yiazma, in the greatest order. 
A party of the enemy's cavalry then attempted to 
break through our two wings. That which, during 
our retreat, had advanced on our right, was repulsed 
by a body of infantry furnished with cannon. The- 
other, on our left, was equally repulsed by the Bava- 
rian horse, which were opposed to it, and by some 
battalions of sharp-shooters concealed in the bushes^ 
with which the field of battle was covered. 

This manoeuvre ol the Russians, however, spread 
the greatest consternation among those whom either 
disease of body or want of courage, had caused to 
quit their rasjks, and to mingle with the followers of 
the camp. This description of persons was, unhap- 
pily, very numerous, principally among the cavalryp 
which was almost entirely dismounted. They were, 
in truth, become more thati useless to us. In the 
perilous situation in which we. then found ourselves^ 
they constituted eur greatest danger. Tbey not only 
impeded all our manoeuvres, but they spread alarms 
and disorder on all sides, by flying with precipitation 
before an enemy with which their cowardice would 
not permit them to fight. The cossacks, likewise, 
seeing this feeble and unarmed multitude flying be- 
fore them, acquired fresh courage, and attacked us 
with redoubled ardour, believing that these columns 
of fugitives were the only trw)ps with which they hatl 
to contend. 

3J 



24^ 3>OTI0GHO®0t/f, 

AUbon<yli we repulsed every attack, our situation 
tvas beconiiiig exceedingly critical, uatil, hai>pily, the 
grarjd ravine, sihialed at the leit of our route, and 
above ail, the excellent position which the duke of 
E chill ^-en occupied, nrrested the progress of the Rus- 
sians. Tl'iat D'.arshai, being- left the day befoce in a 
position near Yir^zma, to await the pj>ss -ge of the first 
corps, and to take its place as rear-g-nard, had the 
g'lory of extr eating- vti from the greater dano^er, to 
•which we h.id bitlerto '>eei; expose^*. Durmg* the 
■whole action he assisted in person, and he continued 
to niiirch with the viceroy and the prince of Eckmnhl, 
that i^e might confer with them on the measures which 
it was necessary to adopt. 

!■ was nearly four hours after mid-day, when our 
divisio! passed through Yiazma. Leaving the city, 
we saw the thsrd divis.on encamped on a little hdl on 
our left. We o^\ed ncjuch gratitude to that corps for 
bavins" so well defended that important situation. 
Th bravery with which those troops maintained their 
o-round, rendered the fierce and reiterated attacks of 
an enemy, suj/enorin numbers, completely ineffectu- 
al, and contributed much to save the first and fourth 
corf-s from absolute destruction. That last division 
V:i\s thus enabied to accomplish its retreat behind 
the r;ver of Viazma, where the prince endeavoured 
to i t r'«n- die dsasters of this baitle so unfortunate, and 
sustained undei' circumstances in Vvhich the most 
sk liu: combiuatious could scarcely promise a favour- 
able issue. 



BOROGHOBOUt ^43 

Traversing the forest at the foot of the hill of Vi 
azma, we overtook a convoy of the sick and wound- 
ed, which had left Moscow beJore us. These ualor- 
tuiiate being's, after having been many da^s deprived 
of medscal assistaiice, ard almost of tood, encamped 
in this forest, which served them for an hospital and 
a grave. The horses had perished of fatigue and 
hunger, and their guards had forsaken these unhappy 
"wretches, and abandoned them to their late. We 
encamped near them, and, at the approach of night, 
kindled an enormous fire, at the back of a httle hill 
covered with brushwood. The royal guard was 
round the tent of the prince, the thirteenth and four- 
teenth divisions were placed on our flanks, while the 
fifteenth division, though considerably weakenedj, 
formed our rear-guard. 

From this position the whole horizon appeared oti 
fire. It was occasioned by the destruction of those 
houses at Yiazma, which had escaped the first confla- 
gration. The third corps, which always preserved 
its position to protect our retreat, although it was 
separated from the Russ^asis by a river, and by deep 
ravines, seeoied to be frequently attacked. Often in 
the silence of the night, we were startled by the re- 
port of cannon, which, passing over the th.ck forests, 
sounded in a pecuhariy mournful and horrible man- 
ner. This unexpected sound, repeated by the eclioes 
of the valley, was lengthened into dismal reverbera- 
tions; and often, when our harassed powers were 
sinking into calm and refreshing repose, suddenly 
roused as, while we hastily and fearfully ran to ^nsis 



'M4 Bomo»HOBoui, 

expecting" tbat tbe enemy, which we knew to be at 
hand, was advancing- to surprise ns. 

(November 4!h) At one o'clock in the morning 
the vicproy deemed it prucient, to profit by tlie obscu- 
rity of the night, to effect his retreat, and gain some 
h nrs' march on the Kussians, with whom he could 
not fight, since famine would not permit us to re- 
main one unnecessary day in a country completely 
depopulated and laid waste. 'We marched along the 
great road, groping our way in the dark. The route 
was entirely covered with the fragments of carriages 
and artillery Men and horses, worn out with fa- 
tigue, could scarcely tlrag themselves along, and, as 
soon as the last fell exhausted, ths soldiers eagerly 
divided the carcass among them, and hastened to 
broil on the coals that food, wh;ch during many days, 
had constituted their only nourishment. Suffering 
yet more from the cold than from hunger, they aban- 
doned their ranks, to warm themselves by a tire has- 
tily kindled ; but, when they would rise to depart, 
iheir frost-bitten limbf^ refused their office, a partial 
insensibility crept over them, and they preferred to 
fall into the hands of the enemy, rather than make a 
feeble effort So continue their journey. 

Bay had broken some time when we arrived at 
tbe village of Polianovo, near which ran the little 
river Osma. The bridge was very narrow and bad. 
The crowd which had to pass it was immense. As 
every one eagerly rushed ou to clear this narrow de- 
file, the viceroy was compelled to order the officers 
of his staff to iiuerpose their authority, and to main- 



j>oiiOG]^OBOiJa;.. 24* 

tain some little order in so dangerous a place. He 
even condescended to stay himself, arad to use every 
necessary prrcaution to facilitate the passage of the 
artillery, in the midst of a crowd of carriages, which 
pressed on towards the bridge. 

Beneath the town of Semlevo ran another branch 
of the river Osma, more considerable than the first. 
The march of the troops was not, however, delayed. 
They profited by a bridge both large and solid, to 
extricate themselves from a situation, from which the 
enemy might have derived the greatest advantages, 
had they been able to gain possession of it. Sem- 
lev©, built on a steep hill, commands the road by 
which we arrived. At its foot is the Osma, which^ 
almost surrounding it, would have rendered it impos- 
sible for us to have forced that position. 

Towards the close of the day, we found shelter 
for the prince, in a little chapel situated near this river, 
which, making a considerable circuit to the right 
from Semlevo, returns again, and passes the road, at 
the spot at which we now were. We had scarcely 
established ©urselves round the chapel, when the 
camp-followers, having gone to forage, were attacked 
by the cossacks, and fled back with precipitation. 
Some had lost their horses, others their clothes, and 
many were covered with wounds from the sabre and 
the lance. It was necessary then to think of retreat- 
ing, and, while the baggage of the viceroy evacuated 
the position, we saw the troops of the enemy advan- 
cing to the banks of that branch of the Osma, which 
we were about to pass. In these circumstances, we 



^46 ^OROeHOBOUio 

were convinced bow necessary it was in a retreat to 
secure well the passage of every river. This, thougli 
small, was scarcely fordable, aiid had no bridge. To 
@ross it, men, horses, and waggons, precipitated 
themselves into the water. Oar situation was the. 
more deplorv^ble, as the Russians, profiting by our 
distress, began to harass the rear of the column, and 
lo spread couslerualion among" the immense crowd, 
which, remainmg on the other side, saw itself com- 
pelled to cross a deep and half frozen river, whose 
banks were extremely boggy. During this time we 
beard the balls of the enemy whistling over our heads, 
and threatening every* moment to destroy us. With 
this exception the passage of the river presented no- 
thing unfortunate. Night approached, and the cos- 
sacks discontinued their attacks. Our loss merely 
consisted of a few carriages, which we were compel- 
led to leave in the middle ol the water. 

This obstacle being surmounted, we entered on a 
forest, at the extremity of which, towards the left, 
was a chateau^ long ago pillaged. We estabHshed 
ourselves there for the night, near the viiiage of 
Kouibki. W^e had only horse flesh to eat, except a 
little flour that had been brought from Moscow, 
which remained in one of the waggons. A very small 
quantity of this was given lo each officer to make his 
bouiUie. It vi^as carefully measured out to evt^y one 
with a spoon. As for our horses, we were well con-^ 
tent if we could give them the straw, which in @nv 
former passage had served them for litter. 



(November 5tb.) E irly in the morning we pur- 
sued our retreat, and, without any fatal rencontre 
with the enen^iy, arrived at a larg-e vil!ag-e, of which 
some houses had been s )are 1. , We parlicularly re- 
marked a laro;e house bui't of slo le, and we dessg"- 
nated that village bythenvFiie o»" the Sione House.* 
We could rarely ascertain the names of the places 
through which we passed, and we described them m 
our journals by sonrjething" char icleristic, whether it 
referred to their situation, or form, or any peculiar 
hardships which we there endored. Oae was called 
the Hurrah, from the dreadful cry of the cossacks. 
Another, * That near which we vfere beaten.' We 
spoke not of those at which we had suffcied from 
hung-er, for that was common to every village through 
which we passed. 

Hitherto we had endured our misforkmes with 
calmness and resignation, buoyed up by the flattering 
hope that they would soon cease. When we depart- 
ed from iVIoscow, we had regarded Smolensko as the 
limit of our retreat. There we trusted that we should, 
rejoin the divisions left on the Nieper and the Dwina, 
and, taking these two rivers as the boundary of 
©ur territories, should have the beautiful country of 
Lithuania for our winter quarters. We likewise 
pleased ourselves with the thought, that Smolensko 
abounded in provisions of every kind ; and that, to 
relieve us from the labours under which we were ra- 

* This yillage appears, from the map^ to have beeo JoSko« 
PostoVa Door, 



24S BORd^HOBOCfli. 

pidly sinking*, we sliould find the ninth clivisio», 
eomposed of twenty-five thousand fresh troops. This 
eity was therefore the object of our f©ndest wishes, 
and our most pleasing^ dreams. Every one was anx- 
ious to arrive thilher, persuaded that within its w ills 
the dreadful calamities which now environed us would 
forever cease. TiiC name of Smolensko passed from 
mouth to mouth, and each pronounced it with confi- 
dence to those who were smkmg' un-der their safer- 
ing-s, as their truestj their only consolation. There 
was ma^ic in the name. It c irried with it a happy 
oblivion of all our past miseries, and inspired us with 
courage to support the fatig'ues which we were yet 
to encounter. 

(November 6th.) We marched towards Smo- 
lensko, with an ardour which redoubled our strength ; 
and, approaching' Doroghoboui, distant from that 
city only twenty leagues, the thought that in three 
days we should reach the end ©f all our misfortunes, 
iiiled us with the most intoxicating joy ; when sud- 
denly the atmosphere, which had hitherto been so 
brilliant, was clouded by cold and dense vapours. 
The sun, enveloped by the thickest mists, disappear- 
ed from our sigiit, and the sn©w falling in large 
flakes, in an instant obscured the day, and confound- 
ed the earth with the sky. The wind, furiously blew- 
ing, howled dreadfully through the forests, and over- 
whelmed the firs, already bent down with the ice ; 
while the country arouad, as far as the eye could 
reach, presented^ unbroken, one white and savage 
appearance. 



DOROGHOBOUl, 249 

The soldiers, vainly slrug-gling with the snow and 
the wind, which rushed upon them with the violence 
of a whirlwind, could no longer distinguish the road ; 
and falling into the ditches which bordered it, there 
found a grave. Oihers pressed on towards the end 
of their journey, scarcely able to drag themselves 
along, badly mounted, badly clothed, with nothing lo 
eat, nothing to drink, shivering with the cold, and 
groaning with pain. Becoming sesfish through de- 
spair, they afforded neither succour, nor even one 
glance of pity, to those who, exhausted by fatigue 
and disease, expired around them. How many un- 
fortunate beingSj on that dreadful day, dying of cold 
and famine, strag"g'led hard with the agonies of death ? 
We heard some of them faintly bidding- their last 
adieu to their friends and comrades. Others, as they 
drew their last brealh, pronounced the name of their 
mothers, their wives, their native country, which they 
were never more to see. The rigour of the frost 
soon seized on their benumbed limbs, and penetrat- 
ed through the whole frame. Stretched on the road, 
we could distinguish only the heaps of snow which 
covered them, and which, at almo^it every step, form- 
ed little undulations, like so many graves. At tlse 
same time vast flights of ravens, abandoning the 
plain to take refuge in the neighbouring forests, 
croaked mournfully as they passed over our heads ^ 
and troops of dogs, which had followed us from 
Moscow, and lived solely on our mangled remains, 
howled around us, as if they would hasten the period 
when we were to become their prey. 
32 



260 BOROGHOBOUI. 

From that day the army lost its courage and its 
military athtude. The soidier no longer obeyed his 
ctik'er. The officer separated himself from his gen- 
eral. The regiments disbanded, marched ni disorder. 
Searching for food, they spread themselves over the 
plain, burning and pillaging whatever fell in their 
wav. The horses fell by thousands.^ The cannon 
and the waggons which had been abandoned, served 
o;t!y to obstruct the way. No sooi.er had the sol- 
diers separated from the raiiks, than they were assail- 
ed by a population eager to ave» ge the horrors of 
which it had been the victim. The cossacks came 
to the succour of the peasants, and drove back to the 
great road, aire id} fiued with the dying and the dead, 
those of the followers who escaped from the carnage 
muae amoisof them. 

Such was the situation of the army, when we ar- 
rived at Doroghoboui. This little town would have 
given licw life to our unfortunate troops, if JN^apoleon 
bad not been so far blinded by rage, as to forget, 
that his soldiers would be the first to suffer by the 
devastation which he caused to be made. Dorogho- 
boui had been burnt, ils magazuies pillaged, and the 
brandy, With which they were tiiled, had been poured 
into the streets, while the rest of the army was pe- 
riNriii g for want of it The few houses which re- 
mained, w ere occupied exclusively by a small num- 
ber of generals and staff-officers. The few soldiers 
which yet dared to face the enemy, were exposed tcy 

* See the twenty- niDth bulletin. 



pOROGHOBOUl. 251 

all the rig-ours of the season ; while the others, who 
had wandered from their proper corps, were now re- 
pulsed on every side, and found no shelter in any 
part of the camp. How deplorable was then the situa- 
tion of these poor wretches ! Tormented by hunger, 
we saw them run after every horse the moment it 
fell. They devoured it raw, like dogs, and foucrht 
among- themselves for the mangled limbs. Worn 
out by want of sleep and long marches, they saw no- 
thing arouud them but the snow ; not one spot ap- 
peared on which they could sit or lie. Penetrated 
with the cold, they wandered on every side to find 
wood, but the snow had caused it entirely to disap- 
pear. If, fortunately, they found a little, they knew 
not where to light it. Did they discover a spot less 
exposed than others, it afforded them but a momentary 
shelter, for scarcely had their fire kindled, when 
the violence of the wind, and the moisture of the at- 
mosphere, suddenly extinguished it, and deprived 
them of the only consolation which remained, in their 
extreme distress. In one place we saw a multitude 
of them, huddled together like beasts, at the root of 
a beech, or pine, or under a waggon. Others were 
employed in tearing down huge branches from the 
trees, or pulling down by main force, and burning 
the houses, at which the officers lodg-ed. Althougrb 
they were exhausted by fatigue, they stood erect. 
They wandered like spectres through the livelong 
night, or stood immoveable around some enormous 



ZOS BOKOGHOBOUI. 

The unforiunate Paulowna, whom the reader will 
recollect, when he calls to mind the pillage of Mos- 
cow, had hitherio accompanied us, and shared in all 
oiu misfortunes and privations. She endui-ed them 
with the cowrag-e which her virtue inspired. Be- 
lieving that she carried in her bosom a pledge of love, 
which she imagined to be legitimate, she was eager 
to become a moih< r, ar.d proud to follow her hus- 
band. But he, wlio had pledged himself to her by 
the moj^t solemn promises, having been informed in 
the morning, that we were not to take up our winter- 
quarters at Smolensko, determined to break a con- 
nexion, which he had regarded as merely temporary. 
Inaccessible to pity, he approached this innocent 
creature, r^nd, under some specious pretext, an- 
nounced to her il aS ibey must part. At this intelli- 
gence !the uttered a cry of sui'prise and horror, and 
franticly declared, that having sacrificed her family, 
and even her reputation, for him, whom she regarded 
as her husband, it was her duty lo follow him ; and 
that neither fatigues nor dangers should turn her 
fl'om a resolution, in w; Ich her love and her honour 
were equally iiileresied. The general, little sensible 
of the value of an atiachment so rure, coldly repeat- 
ed, that they must [art, si!;ce circumsSances would 
FiO longer permit the women to remain with the 
troops; thai; he was ah eady married, and that bj'' re» 
turning speedily to Moscov^', ' she nsight find the hus- 
band for whom her parents had destined her. At these 
cruel words, his interesting victim felt almost annihi- 
laleci. Paler ilrm when she rushed from the tombs 



DOROGHOBOUI. 258 

of the Kremlin, sbe uttered not a word. She sighed, 
she wept, and suffocated by her grief, fell into a state 
of insensibility. Her perfidious seducer took advan- 
tage of this to withdraw from her presence, not be- 
cause he was overpowered by his sensibility ; he, alas 1 
was a stranger to every tender and generous feeling ; 
but to fly from the Russians, wliOse cries of ven- 
geance he already fancied that he heard. 



BOOK Till. 



KRASNOE. 



When Napoleon quitted Moscow, he intended 
to reunite his troops between W-itf psk and k*nioien- 
sko, and make the Nieper asid the Dvvina the grand 
line of his operations. The 6th and 7th of Novem- 
ber, having- destroyed the third part of his army, he^ 
on his arrival at Smolensko, aliedg-ed that destruction, 
and the inclemency of tlie winter, as the reasons of 
his abandoning his former design. But the true and 
only motive which induced him to change his plan, 
was the news which he received at Smolensko (10th 
November) that Wittgenstein had forced the Dwina, 
that Witepsk had been taken vi'ith its garrison, and 
that the army of Moldavia, united to that of Voihy- 
nia, having driven before it the corps of prince 
Schwartzenberg-, was titking a position on the Bere« 
sina with the design of joining Wittgenstein, and ef- 
fectually cutting off the retreat of the French army« 
This manoeuvre of the enemy was so well known? 
and appeared so natural, that a report soon spread 
amono^ the troops, that it was the intention ©f the 



•256 KRASNOE. 

Russians to take Napoleon alive, and to put his whole 
army to the sword ; wishing, by this severe chastise- 
ment, to give Europe an example of the punishment 
which they deserved who disturbed the world with 
unjust wars. 

In truih, it was not the severity of a premature 
winter which rendered the plans of Napoleon abor- 
tive, because if he could have maintained himself be- 
tween Smolensko and Witepsk, he would easily have 
repaired the losses which he had hitherto suffered* 
The principal, and the only cause of h's ruin, was 
his determination to proceed to Moscow, without 
considering- the forcTEs which he left in his rear, and 
to effect, at the price of our blood, that which the 
most headstrong and imprudent monarch* had not 
dared to attempt. 

The desire of pillaging that capital, and the am- 
bition of dictating his laws there, made hnn sacrifice 
every thing. He rushed on, eager to destroy the an- 
cient palace of the czars, forgetful of the winter, and 
all its horrors ; forgetful that Wittgenstein had never 
abandoned the Dwina ; and that TschskakofF, return- 
ed from Moldavia, would attack hiai on his return 
from his foolish expedition. 

Napoleon, ignorant as yet of the progress which 
the enemy had made on the Dwina, determined that 
the fourth corps should pass the Nieper, and march 
on Witepsk, to effect a junction with the garrison of 
that town, commanded by general Pouget After 

« Charles XII. of Sweden, 



reconnoitring whether the approach of winter had still 
left this route practicable, general Samson, with some 
engineers which he commanded^ was ordered to tra- 
verse the country, and examine particularly the banks 
of the Wop. These officers had scarcely passed the 
JNieper, when they fell into the hands of a party of 
Cossacks, by whom all these rivers were infested. 

(November 7lh.) While the fourth corps pro- 
ceeded in the direction of Witepsk, we left Dorogho- 
boui, and passed the Borysthenes on a bridge of 
rafts, opposite that village. The horses found the 
greatest difficulty in chmbing the opposite bank. 
The road was become as slippery as glass, and these 
animals, Already exhausted, were no longer able to 
draw. Twelve or sixteen horses harnessed to one 
cannon had scarcely strength to drag it over the small- 
est hill. It was intended to proceed the first day as 
far as Zazel6 3 but the road was so execrably bad, 
that even on the following morning, the waggons had 
sc ircely reached the sixth league. Many cannon and 
horses were of necessity abandoned i and it was on 
that cruel night that the soldiery, no longer under 
controul, began to pillage the baggage. The ground 
was covered with portmanteaus, boxes, and papers ; 
and many articles stolen from Moscow, which some 
remains of shame had hitherto concealed, once more 
saw the light. 

The beautiful chateau of Zaz616 presented us, 
during^ the night, with a repetition of the scenes of 
yesterday. With the exception of those whom the 
pillage of the waggons had reanimated, we saw nothing 



268 KKASNOE. 

on every sirle, but men dying of hunger and of cold ; 
and horses tormented by thirst, endeavouring to break, 
the ice with their feet, to find that water which we 
were unable to give them. 

(November 8th.) Our baggage was so consid- 
erable, that the losses which it had sustained were yet 
scarcely felt. We marched all day, and with much 
alacrity, for we thought that, having quitted the great 
road of Smolensko, and pursued one which had ex- 
perienced less of the calamities of war, we might find 
some villages to shelter us from the inclemency of 
the night, where our famished troops might obtain 
refreshment, and especially where we might procure 
some forage for our meagre horses. But this flat- 
tering hope was soon destroyed. The village of Slo- 
boda, at which we were to sleep, presented us with 
new horrors. Every thing was destroyed; and the 
Cossacks, hovering on our flanks, seized, and pillaged 
©r massacred, every one who, urged by necessity, 
wandered but a little way from the ranks to seek for 
food. In these dreadful circumstances, general Dan- 
thouard, whose talents had before proved so useful, 
appeared to multiply himself, and to be present 
wherever danger threatened. He caused our artillery 
to act with effect, on every point where it could be 
brought to bear; when, as he was passing our lines, 
a catmon-ball fractured his right thigh, after having" 
killed the orderly soldier by his side. 

The viceroy, knowing that we ought to cross the 
Wop on the following day, had sent general Poite- 
via forward in the night, with soeq« engineers, t© con- 



KRASNOE. 2^9 

struct a bridge for our passage. We arrived on the 
banks of the river at an early hour on the morrow, 
when, to the great grief of the prince, and our ut- 
most despair, we saw the whole army and the bag- 
gage ranged along the Wop, without being able to 
pass it. The bridge had been begun, and nearly 
finished, but the waters had suddenly increased dur- 
ing the night, and carried it away. 

The Cossacks, whom we had seen the night be- 
fore, did not tail to advance upon us, when they were 
apprised of our critical situation. We already 
heard the fire of our sharp-shooters, who endeavoured 
to keep them in c4ieck ; but the noise of the fire-arms 
rapidly approaching, convinced us that the audacity 
of" the enemy increased at the view of our dangers. 
In the meantime the viceroy, whose noble soul was 
always calm in the midst of the greatest dangers, 
maintained a presence of mind most important in 
circumstances so desperate. To reanimate the spirits 
of the soldiers, who were more terrified at the pre- 
sence of the cossacks, than at the dangers of the 
Wop, he despatched some chosen troops, who, re- 
pulsing the Russians on our flanks, and ou our rear, 
left us at liberty to attempt the passage of the river. 

The prince, seeing that it was necessary for some 
officer of rank to set an example of courage, in cross- 
ing first, ordered colonel Delfanti to place himself at 
the head of the royal guard, and to pa!»s the ford of 
the Wop. That brave officer, whose intrepidity can- 
not be too highly praised, embraced with ardour this 
•pportunily of showing his devotion to the service^ 



f60 KRASNOE. 

and in s\^ht of all our corps, with the water reaching 
to his waist, made his wa^ through the accumulated 
ice, at the head of the grenadiers, and surmounted 
cver^^ difficulty. 

The Viceroy immediately followed with his staff, 
and, having- arrived at the other side, he issued the 
necessary orders to facilitate a passage so dangerous. 
The waggons now began to file off. The first passed 
happdy over, and after them a few pieces of artillery. 
But as the channel was far below the level of the 
ground, and the banks steep, and glittering with ice, 
the only practicable point was where a gentle declivi- 
ty had been dug to descend to the river. The can- 
non, all following in the same track, formed ruts so 
deep, that it was impossible to drag them out. Thus 
the only accessible ford was soon choaked up, and 
rendered utterly impassable for the rest of the artdlery 
and baggage. 

In this situation every one yielded to despair; for, 
notwithstanding the efforts made by our rear-guard 
to repulse the Russians, it was but too evident that 
they advanced. Our very fear doubled our dan- 
ger. The river was half ti-ozen, and as the waggons 
could not possibly cross it, it was necessary for those 
who had no horses, to determine to wade through the 
stream. Our situation was the more deplorable, as we 
were forced to abandon a hundred pieces of cannon, 
and a great number of ammunition and provision 
waggons, carts, and drouschki,* which contained the 

» A."' ®Jegant Isltle carriage jnuch used at Moscow, 



KBASNOE 961 

little wbicli remained of the provisions of Moscow. 
As soon aslhe r ecessity became thus apparent, every 
one abandoned his vehicle, and hastily loaded his 
horse with his most valuable effects. But scarcely 
had any one resolved to leave his carriage, before 
a crowd of soldiers !J!;iviiisr she owner no time to 
■select what he thoug-ht proper, violently seized on it, 
and in a moment pillaged it of every Ihing which it 
contained, principal !y searching for flour ai;d brandy. 
The artillery-men abandoned their pieces, and, on the 
report that the enemy rapidly approached, imuitdiale- 
ly spiked them, despairing- to cctnvey theni across a 
river, every part of which was choked w ilh w aggons 
sticking fast in the clay, a,nd the bodies ot innumera- 
ble soldiers and horses, who h^d been carried away 
by the stream. The cries of those w ho were ciossing 
the river, the consternation of others who were pre- 
paring to descend, and whom, with their horses, we 
every moment saw overwhelnjed by the current, the 
despair of the women, the shrieks of the childreUj^ 
and the terror even of the soldiers, rendered this pas- 
sage a scene so horrible, that the very recollection of 
it yet terrifies those who witnessed it. 

Although it is most painful to recall to memory 
the dreadtul events of that day, 1 cannot prevail on 
myseifto forbear recounting one trait of maternal 
love, so touching, and so honourable to human na- 
ture, that the sight of it compensated for the affliction 
which those unfortunate beings occasioned me. 

A female suttler of our corps, who had been with 
m during tne whole campaign, returned from Mos- 



■■268 JCEASNOIS. 

eow, carrying in a waggon five young' children, and all 
the fruit of her industry. Arrived at the Wop, she 
regarded with horror the rapid stream, which com- 
pelled her to leave on its banks, all her little fortune, 
and the future subsistence of her children. For a long 
lime she ran up and down, eagerly looking for a new 
passage, when, returning in despair from her fruitless 
search, she said to her husband, * we nmst indeed 
abandon all ; let us now try only how to save our chil- 
dren.' Saying this, she took the two youngest from 
the waggon, and placed them in her husband's arms. 
I saw the poor father closely hug the mnocent crea- 
tures, and, with a trembling foot traverse the river, 
while his wife, on her knees at the edge of the water, 
now gazed eagerly on him, and then raised her eyes 
to heaven ; but as soon as she saw him safely landed, 
she lifted her hands in gratitude to ProvidCiice, and 
leaping on her teet, exclaimed with transport, * they 
are saved, they are saved.' The anxious father de- 
positing his precious burden on the bank, hastened 
back, seized on two more of them, and again plung- 
ing into the waves, followed by his wife, who bore 
the fifth on one arm, and with the other hand clung 
fast to her husband, reached the shore in safety. The 
children who were first carried over, thinking them- 
selves abandoned by their parents, had made the air 
resound with their cries, but their tears soon ceased 
to flow, when the affectionate family was again re- 
united. 

Night approaching, we quitted this place of deso- 
lation, and encamped near a wretched village, halt a 



KR4.SKOE. 263 

leag^ne from the banks of the Wop, whence we often 
heard, in the middle of thenig^ht, the lamentable cries 
of those who were yet attempting- their passag-e. We 
had lelt the fourteenth division on the other side, to 
hold the enemy in check, and to endeavour to save 
some part of the immense bag-gage which we had 
abandoned. I was sent on the morrow, to recall this 
division, and was thus enabled to perceive all the ex- 
tent of our loss. For more than a league, nothiug^ 
was to be seen on the road and the banks of the river, 
but ammunition waggons, pieces of artillery, and the 
most eleg-ant carriages, brought from Moscow. The 
articles with which these wagg-ons had been filled, and 
that were too heavy to be carried away, were heaped 
on every side. I saw many figures of antique bronze, 
chandeliers of the g-reatest value, original aiid exqui- 
site paintings, and the richest and most esteemed por^ 
celain. J perceived among the rest, a cup of the 
most beautiful workmanship, on which was depict- 
ed the sublime composition of Marcus Sextus. I 
took it, and drank from it some of the water of the 
Wop, full of dirt and ice. After I had thus used 
it, I cast it from me With indifference, near the places 
where I had found it. 

Our troops had scarcely quitted the other bank 
when clouds of cOssacks, no longer finding any op- 
position, advanced to the river, where they found ma- 
ny unhappy wretches who, feeble and diseased, had 
been unable to pass the ford. Although our enemies 
were now surrounded and oppressed with plunder, 
they yet stripped their miserable prisoners, and Mk 



'264 JtKASNOE. 

them naked on the yiiow. We could see, from the 
OjDposite bank, the cossacks shariiig- among them* 
selves the blood}' spoils. Iflheii' courage had equal- 
led their love of pillage, the Wop would not have de- 
fended us from their attacks. But these cowardly as- 
sailants were always stopped by a few bayonets, or 
contented themselves with firing at us a few cannon- 
shot, which often, indeed, reached our ranks. 

The last night iiad been truly dreadful. To form 
some idea of it, the reader must picture to himself 
an army encamped on the bare snow, in the midst of 
the severest winter, closely pursued by the enemy, 
and having neither artillery nor cavalry to oppose to 
him. The soldiers without shoes, and almost with- 
out clothes, were enfeebled by fatigi e and famine. 
Sitting on their knapsacks, they slepi on their knees, 
^rom this benumbing posture Ihey only rose to broil 
gome slices of horse-flesh, or to melt a few morsels 
of ice. Often they had no wood, and to make their 
iires, they destroyed the houses in which the generals 
lodged ; sometimes, therefore, when we awoke in the 
morning, the village which we had seen the night be- 
fore had disappeared, and towns, which to-day were 
untouched, would form on the morrow one vast con- 
tiagralion. In the midst of these sufferings the vice- 
roy, always at our head, never lost his calmness and 
serenity of mind. Enduring comparatively far greater 
privations than we, he was always cheerful, and pre- 
served his presence of mind amidst the most urgent 
dangers, offering^, at the same time, in his own exam- 
ple, the most perfect model of military disciphne* 



^RASNOE. 266' 

The Cossacks, perceiving- that we had quilted our 
position, soon crossed the river and attacked our rear» 
The fourteenth division, which had preserved twelve 
pieces of cannon, formed the rear-gnard, and repuls* 
ed the enemy. In the meantime the prince and his 
officers endeavoured to reduce to some order, and en- 
tice back to their ranks, those soldiers whom misery 
had forced to leave their colours to search for food. 
They attempted this, however, without success. 
The number of the strag-glers was so great, that it 
was impossible either to arrest or to check thera„ 
Even when some had returned to their duty, the de- 
sertion soon recommenced. Hunger, imperious hun- 
ger, seduced them again from their colours, and 
Ihrew all our columns into confusion. The more 
enfeebled we became, the more enterprising were our 
adversaries. Their attacks on our rear- guard were 
almost incessant, and we were frequently compelled to 
halt, and contend against superior forces, which 
endeavoured to overwhelm us on every side. 

The rear of our column was briskly pressed., 
when the royal guard, which formed its head, was 
stopped before Dukhovchlchina, by some squadrons 
of cossacks, which, issuing from the town, deployed 
in the plain, as if they would surround us. Seeing 
that we were thus pressed on every side, our corps 
fell into such disorder, that it resembled one im- 
mense crowd, half of which were sick and disarmedo 
In the meantime the enemy maintained his ground 
■^n one side of us, and on the other attacked us witl> 
^4 



26& KRASNOE» 

vigour. Bufc the prince, ever preserving- his courage 
unbroken, formed the Italian guard, and the Bavarian 
dragooDS and light horse, into a square, which, march- 
ing in pialoons, drove buck the cossacks, and per- 
mitted us to enter Dukhovchtchina. The thirteenth 
division was formed in column close to these troops, 
in spite of the multitude of stragglers, which, press- 
ing n)und our battalions, impeded every manoeuvre. 
That he might accellerate the march of the army, the 
prince himself watched during the night, and super- 
intended the repair of an old bridge which arrested 
our progress. To encourage the engineers, he even 
condescended to assist at the work, while every priva- 
tion to which he exposed himself, rendered him dear- 
er to those whom he commanded. 

The little town of Dukhovchtchina, through 
which our army had not before passed,* had escap- 
ed the general destruction. The inhabitants, flying 
at our approach, left us some provisions, which we 
eagerly collected, coarse as they were. But that 
which rendered them most precious was the oppor- 
tunity of preparing them in some human habitation, 
and enjoying for a little while a shelter from the ex- 
cessive cold of a piercing wind. 

The viceroy despatched an officer towards Smo- 
lensko, to announce to Napoleon the disasters which 
we had experienced on the Wop. It was, doubtless, 
to await the reply of the emperor, and to kuow whe- 

* ExcepfiDg the cavalry commanded by general Grouchy, 
atocl the tlivision of PinOj when it returned from Porietsch. 



KKASNOE, 267 

Iher we were yet to continue our march upon Wi- 
tepsk, that we were permitted to enjoy one day's rest 
at Dukhovehtchina. But, when that officer did not 
return, if was determined that we should recommence 
our mirch at two o'clock on the followino; morning*. 
We had been undisturbed during- the whole of the 
day, but at ten o'clock at night, while we were in« 
dulg-mg in a sweet repose, to which we had been so 
long unaccustomed, the cossacks appeared before the 
town, and directed th "' artillery on the fires round 
which our soldiers were sleeping. Many picqnets 
were surprised ; those of the one hundred and sixth 
regiment, placed before a church, suffered consider- 
able loss ; but the presence of the viceroy soon re- 
paired the disorder which so unexpected an attack 
had occasioned. The troops were immediately col- 
lected, and occupied every position which could be 
favourable to us in a nocturnal encounter. This attack 
was followed by nothing of consequence, for it was 
made by the cossacks, who took care to be far enough 
away when they perceived that we were taking mea- 
sures to punish their temerity. 

(November 12th.) The hour of departure being 
arrived, we set lire to Dukhovehtchina, whose houses 
had been so useful to us. Although sufficiently ac- 
customed to all the effects of a conflagration, we 
could not restrain our astonishment at the horrible, 
yet superb spectacle, which it now presented, amid 
the shades of a forest covered with snow, and 
strangely iUumined by torrents of flames. The trees, 
covered with a sheet of ice, dazzled the siglit 



MB KKASNOE. 

and produced, as with a prism, the most vivid and 
variegated colours. The branches of the birch, 
drooping' to the ground like the weeping' willow, ap- 
peared like beautiful chandeliers, while the icicles, 
melted by the heat, seemed to scatter around us a 
shower of brilliant and sparkling diamonds. 

In the midst of a scene full of splendid horror, 
our troops reunited, and proceeded from the town on 
the road to Smolensko. Although the night was un- 
usually dark, the flames that ascended from the 
neighbouring villages, which had been also destroy- 
ed, formed so many auror^-boreales, and, till the 
dawn of day, shed a frightful glare upon our march. 
Beyond Toporovo, the road of Pologhi, which we 
had followed when we came from Smolensko to Do- 
roghoboui, was on our left. The snow, that covered 
all the countrj^, had nearly buried the villages, which 
formed from afar only a black spot on one boundless 
surface of white. The difficulty of approaching them 
saved many from the general desolation. When I 
-Compared these peaceful asylums with the torments 
to which we were a prey, I could not refrain from 
exclaiming, * Happy people! exempt from ambi- 
tion, you live tranquil and undisturbed, while we are 
fast sinking under the rnost frightful calamities. The 
winter preserves your existence, but it devotes us to 
death. When the sweet spring shall have accom- 
plished your deliverance, you will see our carcasses 
bleaching on the plain, and ^ou will be doubly happy 
in having suffered so little from our tyranny, and in 



KRASNOE^ 269 

having' ad.led nothing to the weight of our misfoiv 
tunes.' 

The little river Khmost vf'as frozen when we cross- 
ed it, and the bridge, which w^as yet entire, enabled 
us to pass on without delay or danger. Arriving at 
Wolodimerowa, the viceroy established himself in a 
chateau a little above the village, where he had lodg- 
ed on our former march. Encamping around him^ 
we u'ere certain \\v\i the cossacks, who had flanked 
our route during the day, would halt on a height not 
far distant from us, and, accordingly they soon drove 
in our foragers, who, urged by imperious necessity, 
had spread themselves through the neighbouring- vil- 
lages in search of food. 

(November 13th,) We were now only one day's 
march from Smolensko, where abundance would 
succeed to want, and repose to fatigue. Impatient 
to enjoy a happiness so long desired, we left Wolodi- 
merowa long before day, burning, as was our custom, 
the cottasces which had afforded us an asvlura. Ar- 
rived at the heights of Stabna, where the road of 
Dukhovchtchina joins with that of Witepsk, we ex- 
perienced an almost insuperable difficulty in ascend- 
ing the mountain. Wherever we attempted to climb 
it, we found one solid mass of ice, bright, and slip- 
pery as glass. Men and horses rolled over one an- 
other ; and happy were they who, after the utmost 
exertion, could extricate themselves from the dread- 
ful pass. 

Before we arrived at Smolensko, where all our 
misfortunes were to terminate, the most melancholy 



270 .KKASNOE. 

scenes presented themselves every iBstant, and in- 
creased our eag-erness to reach that cit^/, the object of 
our most ardent prayers. Among" the sports of cruel 
fortune, none had more cause to complain than the 
French women, who^ following us from Moscow to 
escape the vengeance of the Russians, hoped to find 
with us certain protection. Most of them on foot, 
with shoes of stuff, little calculated to defend them 
from the frozen snow, and clad in old robes of silk, 
or the thinnest muslin, were glad to cover them- 
selves with tattered pieces of military cloaks, torn 
from the dead bodies of the soldiers. Their situation 
would have drawn tears from the hardest hearts, if 
dire necessity had not stifled, in every bosom, the 
feelings of humanity. 

Of all the victims of the horrors of war, no one 
inspired warmer pity than the young and interesting 
Fanny. Beautitu!, affectionate, amiable, and spright- 
ly, speaking many different languages, and possess- 
ing every quality calculated to seduce the most in- 
sensible heart, she now begged for the most menial 
employment; and tlie morsel of bread which she ob- 
tained drew fi om her rapturous expressions of grati- 
tude, imploring succour from us all, she was com- 
pelled to submit to the vilest abuse ; and, though her 
sool loathed the prostitution, she every night belong- 
ed to him who would charge himself with her sup- 
port I saw her when we quilted Smolensko. She 
was no longer able to walk. She was clinging to the 
tail of a horse, and was thus dragged along. At 
len'-'^-th her |}owers were €|uiie exhausted. She fell 



KRASNOE. f>'71 

on the snow, and there remained unburied, without 
exciting- one emotion of compassion, or obtaining one 
look of pity ; so debased were our souls now become^ 
^nd our sensibility quite exting^uished. But what 
need of more testimonies of the calamities which 
hefel us ; we were all fellow-sufferers. 

It was horrible to see and to hear the enormous 
dogs, with shaggy hair, which, driven from the villa- 
ges that we had burned, follovt^ed us along our march. 
Dying with hunger, they uttered one incessant and 
frightful howl, and often disputed with the soldiers 
the carcasses of the horses which fell on our route. 
In addition to this, the ravens, with which Russia 
abounds, attracted by the scent of the dead bodies, 
hovered over us in black and innumerable crowds^ 
and by their cries of mournful presage, struck the 
stoutest hearts with terror. 

Happily we were only two leagues from Smo- 
lensko, and the tower of its celebrated church, which 
we already saw at a distance, flattering us with tlie 
sweetest illusions, seemed the most lovely object isi 
the whole perspective. An hour before we arrived, 
we left the fourteenth division, with the few Bavarian 
horse which remained, to observe and hold in check 
the Cossacks, who, increasing in number every mo- 
ment, seemed determined to follow us to the very 
walls of Smolensko. But what was oar grief, when 
we learned, in the very suburbs of the city, that the 
ninth corps was gone, that it had not even halted al 
Smolensko, and that the provisions were all consora- 
etl! A thuuderbolt fidling at om* feet would h^vf' 



^72 KRASKOE. 

confounded us less than did this news. Our senses 
were for a moment suspended. We would not be* 
lievethe fact; but our eyes soon gave us sad confir- 
mation of the truth, when we saw the garrison of 
Smolensko eagerly rushing out, and immediately de- 
vouring the horses which every moment dropped, 
exhausted with fatigue and hunger. We then no 
longer doubted that famine reigned in that city 
which, till this moment, we had regarded as the abode 
of plenty. 

As we were musing on the sadness of our lot, 
its rigour was somewhat alleviated by the promise of 
a little rice, flour, and biscuit, which yet remained in 
the magazines. The hope of this reanimated our 
drooping courage, when suddenly we were filled with 
new consternation. We had scarcely arrived with- 
in the gates of Smolensko, when crowds of strag- 
glers covered with blood, rushed upon us, and an- 
nounced that the cossacks were only two hundred pa- 
ces distant. The next moment, captain Tresel, aid- 
de-camp to general Guilleminot, who had been left 
behind with the fourteenth division, came at full 
speed. He apprised us that that division had taken 
up a position in a chateau, in a wood which com- 
manded the road ; that the enemy had surrounded 
it, but that being perfectly intrenched round the 
chateau^ and the approaches being defended by pal- 
lisades, the cossacks, despaired of attacking them with 
success, and retired to fall upon the stragglers ; that 
they had speedily overtaken these unhappy beings, 
had massacred some, and wounded a great number. 



^RASNOE* 273 

The road was covered with these miserahle wretch- 
es, and presented a spectacle well calculated to ex- 
site our liveliest compassion. We saw them, more*, 
over, at a distance, descending the mountain of Snio- 
lensko. The declivity was so rapid, and the frost 
had rendered it so slippery, that numbers of these 
unfortunate being^s, unable to support themseiveSj 
Tolled down the declivity, and immediately perished. 

Having left the royal guard on this height, to pro- 
tect the division of Broussier, which formed the rear- 
guard, we descended toward the Nieper, and endea- 
voured to enter the city. Beyond the bridge was 
the junction of the road of Doroghoboui, with that 
from Yalentina, which all the other divisions had tak- 
en ; and as these corps had not passed the Wop, they 
yet retained a great part of their artillery and baggage. 
The numerous carriages, which flocked in on every 
side, mingled with the foot soldiers and the cavalry ; 
and all of them attempting to rush into Smolensko, 
where they had been promised some rations of bread, 
the greatest confusion ensued. The entrance was 
completely choaked up, and more than three hours 
elapsed ere we could penetrate into the city. 

(November 13.) The wind was tempestuous, and 
the cold excessive. We were assured that the ther- 
mometer was more than twenty-two degrees belovi?' 
the freezing point. Notwithstanding this, every one 
ran into the streets, hoping that he might be able to 
purchase provisions. Smolensko was built on the 
side of a mountain, and the ascent was so slippery, 
?J5 



274 KHASNOIS. 

that it was neeessary to crawl on our knefs, and im 
hold by the rocks which projected above the snow, in 
Older to gain the summit. We at leng'lh reached the 
lo;), where we found the great square, and tho'-fe hou- 
ses which had suffered least irom the cosjflag-ralion. 
AUhough the weather was iiisnpportabiy severe, we 
sought rather tor food than for io(iging. Some sol- 
diers oi ihe garrison, to whom a litlie bread had been 
distributed, were compelled by force to sell it to us,^ 
Others mimediatel\ entreated ihose who had boiighfe 
it, to s[)are it, and soldiers and officers mingled to-, 
gether, were ravenously devouring in the streets, 
every kind of provision which they could procure, 
however coarse or disgusting. In the meantinse the 
Cossacks arrived. We distmctly perceived them 
scouring the heights, and firnig on the troops which 
defi ed below the town. Our fourth division being 
actively engaged with them, the viceroy was eager 
to transport himself to that point. He was accom- 
panied, along a difficult and perilous road, by general 
Gifflejge, and by his aids-de-can^p, Tacher, Labedo- 
y6i'e,and Mejeaii, and by Corner, officer of artillery^ 
all indefatigal>ie in misJoriune, and always ready to 
brave the greatest dangers. 

We had great difficulty in finding shelter, for the 
houses were few, and the crowd, which was to occu- 
py them mimense. At length, heaped one upon 
another in the great hails whose arches had defied 
the flames, we waited with inipatieiice lor the distri- 
bution ot the bread. But the formalities necesi^ary 
to be gone ihioujjh were so leng, that mght came on 



KRASNOE; STI' 

«re any thing' was delivered. It was now necessary 
to run aiicw into the streets, and, with money in our 
bands, seek in the quarters of the imperial guard for 
something to support our existence. They, more 
favoured than the rest of the army, oiten rolled in 
abundance, when we were destitute of every com ort^ 
Thus, Smolensko, which we had thought would 
have been the termmation ot our misfortunes, cruelly 
deceived our dearest hopes, and became the witness of 
our greatest disgrace, and our most profound despair. 
The soldiers, who could not find a shelter, encamp- 
ed in the middle of the streets, and some hours af- 
ter, were found dead around the fires which they had 
kindled. The hospitals, the churches, and the other 
public buildings, were unable to contain the sick, 
■who presented themselves by thousands. Ihese 
UJ happy beings, exposed to all the rigours of a fros- 
ty night, lay uncovered on the waggons, or in the am- 
munition-carts, or perished in vainly searching for an 
asylum. In fine, when every thing had been promis- 
ed us at Smolensko, nothing had been provided to 
enable us to maintain ourselves there ; nothing had 
been prepared to relieve and comfort an army whose 
salvation depended on that place alone. Hence de» 
spair seized upon us. We thought only how to save 
our wretched existence. Honour and duty were for- 
gotten, or rather, we were no longer disposed to sub- 
mit to the commands of a rash sovereign, who trou- 
bled not himself to provide bread fos* those who had 
sacrificed their lives t© gratify his ambition. 



2T6 KMASNOE. 

We saw those M'ho were once the giivest, and th© 
most intrepid, entirely lose that character. They 
predicted only disasters and dangers.* One thoug-hl; 
occupied their minds — that country M'hich they were 
never again to see. One object filled their view- 
that death which every moment threatened them. 
With a mouriiful presentiment, each enquired trem- 
blingly, and with the most profound mystery, where 
were the arm es to which we looked for deliverance? 
* Where is the duke of Reggio ?' one secretly asked 
his companion. — * He wished to have protected the 
Dwina, but he was forced to abandon Polotsk, and to 
fasl back upon Lessel,' was the whispered reply.—- 
'And where is the duke of Belluno?' — ' He could 
not leave Sienna.'—^' And where the Russian army 
of Wolhynia ?'— -' It has repulsed prince Schwarlzen- 
berg ; it has made itself master of Minsk, and it is 
advancing against us.' — ^ Ah! if this news be true,* 
repealed the first to himself, ' our situation is truiv 
desperate ; and one great battle, on the borders of the 
]N*eper or the Beresina, will complete our ruin.' 

Reflections, if possible, yet more depressing oc- 
cupied and tormented us, when a confused murmur 
spread the report that the whole of France was agi- 
tated j that the town of N;mtes had been destroyed, 
and that Paris, where, during nearly twenty years^ 
the fate of Europe had been decided, was also in a 
state of conimotion, which made us tremble for the 
fate of our beloved country ! We were inforaied t|iat 

«• See the twenty-nmih balletijj; 



KRASNO.E. .-277 

certain men, V iiown for their love of democracy, bad 
conceived the project of spreadiug" a false report of 
the death of Napo'eon, and the entire destruction of 
his army ; and, that profiting- by the grief antl con-^ 
sternalion which this news would occasion it was 
their intention to overthrow the existing authorities, 
and tfi erect a gfovernment which would be subservi- 
ent to their views. T* this desig-n had been conceived 
bv hones*, and patriotic men, who, emulous to render 
themselves illustrious h\ ihe deliverance of their coun- 
try, sought only to dethrone the emperor, that they 
might preserve the French people from the disgrace 
of hereafter owing their freedom to tho^e whom they 
called their enemies, certainly such a project would 
have been truly heroicc But, instead of an enterprise 
so noble, we were told that the conspirators wished to 
deliver us from despotism, that they might plung'e 
us into the horrors of anarchy. Far from wishing" 
success to such a scheme, we rejoiced when we were 
afterwards informed, that our country was not again 
delivered over to the fury of the different factions, for 
the political perfidy of our oppressor had caused the 
fate of the people to depend solely oti his safety. Bv 
his monstrous Machiavelism, France was at war with 
the whole human race, that the preservation of France 
might be connected with that of his own person. 

As we lay under some wretched thatch, and in- 
dulged in many a melancholy reflection, we were sud- 
denly roused by unexpected cries. ' Rise, rise ; they 
pillage the inagazines.' Springing* immediatelv o^ 



278 -KKASNOB. 

our feet»and seizing" a sack, a pannier, ©r a bottle, we 
exclaimed to each other, as we rushed out, * I will 
go to the flour mag-azine, you g^o to the magazine of 
' brandy ; let the servants run to the place where the 
meat, the biscu t, the jiease, are kept.* In an instant 
the room was emply. After a considerable interval 
our friends returned, and infotaied us, that the noU 
dsers, dynig with hanger, and no laager able to await 
the d lalory distribution of the provsions, had, in 
spite of the guanl, forced the g-ites of the lua^a^uies, 
and begun to pillage them. Some came back with 
their ciolhes covered with flour, and even pierced 
With the bayonet, bearing on then* shoulders sacks of 
flour, which they had taken by force from the soU 
djers who were dividmg it. Others entered, haras- 
sed with fatigue, and deposited on the table a great 
pannier of bhscuit, or what was belter, an enormous 
leg" of beef. An hour after, the domestics followed 
them bringing rice, pease, and brandy. At the un- 
expected view of such abundance, our hearts once 
more expanded. One laughed with joy, as he knead- 
ed his bread ; another sung as he cooked h.s meat i 
but most of them, eagerly seizing the braiidy, quickly 
caused the wildest gay ety to succeed to the most dis- 
tressing^ sadness. 

Although the weather was beautifully clear, the 
air was so exceedingly piercing, that it froze us as 
■we passed the streets. At every step were seen the 
dead bodies of the soldiers, stretched on the snow, 
who, htsrassed by fatigue, had perished of cold as 
they were searching for a place of repose* Ail these 



disasters, and especially our stay at Smolensk*), re- 
mi ad me of the death of colonel Biltag-lta, comm ii- 
dant of the guard of honour of Italy. I have lon^ 
reoroached myself with not having interested the 
feelings of my readers, by recouiiting the misfortunes 
of that distinguished corps. The rapidity of my 
narration has hitherto prevented me from occupyiu^ 
myself with the calamities of individuals, whi*e I 
was oppressed and overpowered by the recollectioa 
of those which were endured by the whole army. At 
this epoch, that corps was cjmpletely annihilated ; 
and, ere I quit the fital walls of Siuolensko, I will 
succinctly recount its history. 

It was composed of young men selected frojii 
the first families in Italy, and whose parents allowed 
them a pension of twelve hundred francs, when they 
entered the corps. It was an honour to be admitted 
into the regiment, as its very name testified. It was 
not rare to find, among these young men, the mosfc 
brilliant talents, united to the most affluent fortune. 
Many of them were the ordy sons of illustrious fami- 
lies. To the titles which they derived from their an- 
cestors, they added a well-cultivated understanding, 
and every quality which promised ultimately to form 
the most distinguished military characters. In this 
school were educated the best informed and the most 
excellent officers of the Italian army. They acquir- 
ed experience in submitting to the rules of their 
corps, which, while it gave them the rank of sub- 
lieutenaats, obliged them to perform the service of 
private soldiers. 



28U ^ KRASNOE. 

This corps conducted itself Well on every oeca- 
sion, and was remarkable for its fine appeara ce and 
strict discipline, but it suffered more than any other, 
by the privations aifceudanl on this memorjihle c-m- 
paig'ti. The guards of honour, unused to shoe their 
horses, or to mend their garments or their i)ools, 
were obliged to svibmit to these deg^radations, when 
the artificers and domestics attached to their reg-iment 
were no more. Having lost all their horses, and 
wearing enormous and heavy boots, they were un- 
able long to support- the fatigue of our continual 
marches. Confounded with the stragglers, they re- 
mained in the rear, without food and without lodg- 
ing", lu this manner the descendants of the noblest 
families, born to the happiest destinies, perished far 
more miserably than the common soldiers ; for their 
education and their habits ill-disposed them to sub- 
mit to the menial offices by which others gained a 
scanty morsel, and prolonged a wretched life. Some 
of them were seen wrapped in the tattered fragments 
©f their cloaks ; others, mounted O;) sorry cognias,* 
suddenly fainted from weakness and want, and fell 
to rise no more. Out of the three hundred and 
lifty, of which they were origmaly composed, all, 
except five, perished in the most deplorable manner. 
They had, however, this consolation, that they pos- 
sessed the esteem of the prince, who formed them at 
first, and who now sighed over the calamities which 

■^ Cognla, ja the Polish language, signifies a horse ; and, as 
the horses of Russia are very srnailj they dis^Jinguished onrs by 
the Bame of Cognia, 



KRASNOE. 281 

the fatal circumstances of the campaign would not 
permit him to alleviate, 

(November 14.) The emperor, who vi^as at Smo- 
lensko when we arrived there, rt ceived every day 
disastrous news of his armies. That which most 
affected him, was the defeat of general Bar'«guay 
D'Hilliers, sent on the road of Knluga, with general 
Augereau, to op:ose count O.lot^^ Denisoff, who 
threatened to cut off our retreat belwteu Smolensko 
and Krasnoe. At u loss how to rei air so many d s- 
graces, Napoleon, on that day, and for the lirst time, 
held a grand council, at which all the generals of di- 
vision and marshals of the empire assisif^d. As soon 
as the council was broken up, he burned part of lus 
equipage, and immediately depajted i>i his carnage, 
accompanied by his chasseurs, and by the Foh^h 
lancers of the guard. It was reported, at tl«e close 
of the council, that we were to march to-morntw 
with the first corps, and that the third was to remain 
behind to blow up the fortifications of the lown, and 
to form our rear-guard. The s.ime day, the viceroy 
was ioiig closeted with tl e chief of his staff", a^d 
we awaited with anxiety the result of all these con- 
ferences. 

(November 15.) The order was given to con- 
tinue our march, but at a \try iate hour, from ihe 
delay occasioned by the dilatory tiislrbution oi the 
whole contenlsoMhe magazines. The Russian wo- 
men, whose sufferings only added to our misfortunes, 
weie left at Smole: vko. lirfeadfui Situation! since 
3« 



3^ KRASNOE. 

these nnforfcwnate beings well knew that the remains of 
the city would be sacked, the houses delivered toihe 
flames, and the churches undermined. We soon, 
however, heard that the Hetman Pia off, enter'no un- 
expectedly into the town, had preverjted our rear- 
guanl from excuting- the inhuman order. 

Marching" from Smolensko, a spectacle the most 
horrible was presented to our view. Proni that posnt 
till we arrived at a wretched ruined hamlet, *anhe 
distance of about thr<^e leagues, the road was entire iy 
covered with cannon and ammunition- waggois, wh'ch 
they had scarce lime to spike, or to blow up. Horses 
in the agonies of death were seen at every step, ad 
sometimes whole teams, sinking under their labours, 
fell together. All the defiles which the carriages 
could not pass, were filled with muskets, helmets, 
and breast-plates. Trunks broken open, portman- 
teaus torn to pieces, and garments of every kmd 
were scattered over the valley. At every little dis- 
tance we met with trees, at the foot of which the sol- 
diers had attempted to light a fire, but the poor 
"Wretches had pej'ished ere they could accomplish 
their object. We saw them stretched by dozens 
around the green branches which they had vainly en- 
deavoured to kiiidle ; and so numerous were the bo- 
dies, that they would have obstructed the road, had 
not the soldiers been oUen employed in throwing: 
them into the ditches and the ruts. 

■n On inspeetiog the map, this appears to be Loubna. 



These horrors, far from exciting our sensibility, 
only hardened our hearts. Our cruelty, which could 
no more be exercised on the enemy, was extended 
to our comj>aiiio;is. The best friends no longer re- 
cognise'vi e ch other. Whoever discovered the least 
SK k ess, ii he had not good horses a^.d taithful ser» 
Visnls, was sure never to see his couiiiry again. 
Ev<-r- one preferred to nave ihe plunderoj' Moscow, 
raiiier than the lite of his comrade. On ail sides we 
heard the groans ot the d^^^ing, and the lamentable 
cres of lliose whom we iiad aba doned. But every 
one was deaf lo their supplications, or, if he ap- 
proached those who were on the pomt of expiring, 
it-was to plunder, not to assist them; it was to search 
"whether they had any remains of food, and not to 
afforii theiu relief. 

Arrived at Loubna, we were able to save only 
two miserable barns from destruction — one for the 
"Viceroy, and the other for his staff. We had scarcely 
established ourselves there, when we heard a loud 
cannonade in our front. As the noise appeared to 
come from our right, some thought that it was an 
engagement with the ninth corps, which, not having 
been able to relieve Witepsk, was obliged to retreat 
before a su[)erior force ; but they who were best ac- 
quainted with the country, believed that it was the 
emperor and his guard, who had been attacked by 
prince Kutusuff, before his arrival at KrasnoJ:^ That 
prince had marched from Elnia, and passed our army 
while we halted at Smolensko. 



^84 fCBASNOE. 

We can scarcely imag-ine a picture more deplora- 
ble than the ijivoir.ic ot' the staff. Twenty-one offi- 
cers, conlounded with as many servants, had crept 
too-ether roii d a little tire, u -der an execrable cart- 
lionxe scarcely covered. Behind them were the 
horses, ranged n a circle, tliat thej might be some 
defence against the v»olence of the wind, which blew 
W'th fury. Tne sm »ke was so thick that we could 
sctsrcelysee the li^ures of those who were close to 
the fire, and who were employed in blowing she coals 
on which they cooked their food. The rest, wrapped 
in their pelisses or tiieir cloaks, lay one upon anotner, 
as some protection irom the cold; nor did they stir, 
except to abuse those who trod upon .them as they 
passed, or to i ail at the horses, which kicktd when- 
ever a spark fell on their coats. 

(November 16sh.) We recommenced our march 
before the dawn of(tay, and the road was again cov- 
ered with ihe wrecks of our baggage and artillery. 
The horses could no longer draw, and we were oblig- 
ed to abandon our cannon at the foot of the slightest 
hill. The only duty which then remained to the artil- 
lery-men, was to scatter the powder of the cartridges, 
and to spike the pieces, lest the enemy should turn 
them against us. yVe were reduced to this pxtre- 
m ly when, at the distance of two hours' march from 
Krasnoe, the gerierals Poilevin and Guy on, who 
"were in Ihe van-goard, saw a Ross. an officer coming 
towards them, followed by a trumpeter, who an- 
nounced that a herald was advancing. Surprised at 
^n appearance so unexpected, general Guyon halted;j 



KRASNOEi. ^ 285 

and, permittino* the officer lo approach, demanded 
■wjiestce ; e ca ye, and what was the object ol his luis- 
sioii. * 1 coaie,' said Ise, * frotii general Mdora- 
doaitch, to te^i 30U, that yesterday' we beat INapo- 
leo , with die imoenai guard ; ai:d that to-da\ the 
"Vr.erov IS surroiuided by ar; -army o? Iwenty ttious>a»d 
nsen. He cannot escape ns, and, A he wjd suriender» 
M't offer him honoii ^i' le lerms.' To this, geneial 
Giiyon rephed with ntdigimtion, * Heturn qnickly 
^iieace von came, and announce to those who sentyou, 
that if you have twenty tliousa. 'J men, we have here 
four times twenty thousand.' These words, uttered 
with a conBdent air, so corifouudtd the herald, that 
he immediately returned to the cam|> of the enemy. 

While this was jifoing on, ihe viceroy arrived, and 
listened to the intelligence with mingled surprise and 
indignation. Although his corps was so dreadfully 
•weakened, ai)d he probably had some kuowiedge of 
the serious affair which had taken | kice on the day 
before, between the advanced-g;iard of Iv lusoli a.id 
the nuperial guard, yet, reflecting on the boa^t.ng 
manner in which this had been rehaled, he conce;ved 
the hope, that, by forcing a passage, he msght in a 
short time rejoin th^ emperor. He vvas hkewise fniiy 
deiermined to tall honourably in the heid, rather than 
accept of conditions uicompat'bie with his fame. He 
immediately ordered the fourteenth division to front 
the enemy, carrying with them the oidy Uvo pieces of 
cannon which remained ; then calling general Guiile- 
liiinot, he conferred with him for a long time, and the 
result of their coiderence was, that it was absolutely 



286 KRASNOE. 

necessary to force oor way throug-b the enemy. In 
the meantime our troops had marched oa, and the 
Russians, permitting them to advance to the very foot 
of the hili on which they were encamped, suildtnly 
unmasked their batteries, and directed ihem on their 
squares. Their cavab'y soon after desceisdmg from 
their position, completed the destruction of our 
troops, and captured their cannon, of which they 
had made but few discharges, through want of am- 
munition. 

Genera] Ornano advanced across the fire of the 
enemy, with the remains of the thirteenth division, 
to succour the troops of the fouiteeath, which were 
so cruelly bealen, when a cannon-bali passea so near 
him that he fell from his horse. The soldiers thought 
that he was dead, and ran iorward to plunder him, 
"when they perceived that he was o-dy stunned by the 
violence of the fall. The prince then sent his aid- 
de-camp, colonel Deifanti, to endeavour to reani- 
mate the troops. That brave officer, rushing forward 
amidst a shower of balls and grape-shot, encouraged 
his soldiers by his exhortations and by his example; 
when, receiving two dangerous wounds, he was com- 
pelled to retire from the ranks. A surgeon having 
applied a slight dressing, he returned with difficulty 
from the field of battle. On his way he met Mon- 
sieur de ViUebianche, who, in the capacity of audi- 
tor of tiiC council of state, had quitted the town of 
Smolensko, of which he was the intendant, with ge- 
neral Charpentier, who was the govertior. Unfortu- 
nately he had obtained leave of the viceroy to ac- 



KRASNOE. 287 

coinnany h'tn. This generous young man, perceiv- 
ing- coionel Delfaiiti wounded, and leaning' on an 
officer, listened to the dictates of his sensibility and 
offered him his arm also. As all three were slowly 
retinng- from the field, a cannon-ball struck the colo- 
nel between the shoulders, and carried off the head of 
the brave Vdleblanche. Thus perished two young 
men, who, in different professions, had proved their 
talents and , their courage. The first fell a victim to 
his bravery — the other to his humaiiity. The prince, 
deeply affected by this unhappy catastrophe, showed 
the regard which he felt for the memory of colonel 
Detfanti, by an act of benevolence towards the au- 
thor of his being ; and he would have afforded the 
same consolation to the father of Villeblanche, if the 
death of his only son had not shortly brought him to 

his grave. 

Many officers of distinguished merit perished on 
that bloody day. We particularly regretted major 
d'Oreille, whose intrepidity was so well known, and 
the captain of engineers, Morlincourt, whose mo- 
desty was equal to his talents. The cannonade yet 
continued, and carried destruction through all our 
ranks. Tiie field of battle was covered with the dead 
and t'le dying. Great numbers of the wounded, 
abandoning their regiments, took refuge in the rear^ 
and inf reased the crowd of stragglers. The firing, 
vihch had proved fatal to our first ranks, extended 
its ravages to ti-e rear of our army, where the dis- 
mounted officers were stationed. The captains Bor- 
doni and Maslini perished there. Tiiey constituted 



288 KRASNOE-, 

apart of the small number of the Italian guards wh© 
yet survived. 

The viceroy, seeing' iheohstirtacv v/ith wlith the 
enemy d!S|)uted our passage, itigried, by a skillul 
movement, to prolong ttie ehyageuieut on our left, by 
rallying aud reuuitmg ali (hat rtmaned ot the four- 
teeiitli division ; aud, wh' e trie enen.y concei ir^tj d 
the greater part of i)i.s lorces o. this p.-Uit, w sur« 
rouiid and cul off these troups, Ue ^ rr ce took ad- 
vantage of the close of the tlay tu fifeoffto the right 
with the rovai gnsu'd, which had iiot b» tn eiigaged. 
Colonel K'S^ki gave a rem.irkab.e j root of j>resence 
of mind in thai march. He was tamihar With the 
Russian language, and marched in the van-guard of 
the coSnmu. buddeijiy he was svopped by a scout 
of the enemy, v^^iio cried in Russian, ' Wi»o goes 
there?' That itilrepid Oiiicer, not at ali embarrassed 
by a rencontre so nn. orlu sale, advanced towards the 
cenlinel, and siid to hmi in his own lar.guage, ' Hold 
yourtongne, scou idrel, doa't \ou see that we beloitg- 
to the corj>s of O i v .ro v, and that we are going on 
a secret expeditiosj !' Ai these words the soaliep 
was silent, and suffered us to pass under tiie protec- 
iion of the light, without g'vmg tlie alarm. 

The whole army thus escapeti the vigilance of 
the enemy, with tiie excejjtiou of the fifteenth divi- 
sio 1, which, forming the rear-Guaid, was placed un- 
der the comma id of general Tnaire, with orders t© 
march a*? soon as the prince had etitcted his manoeu- 
vre. Whiie tiiis divisio I rested on its a ms, it be- 
heid, with ii,nef, the deslruction wmch spread amoD^ 



khe strag'sj^lers wlio were left in the rear. They like- 
Wise waited for night to continue their route; but, 
when harassed Hy fatigue, they found themselves 
warm and comfortable roiind a blazina^ fire, many of 
them would not proceed until the return of day, 
Thus they perishe'l, the victims of their own apathy. 
"jThe fifteenth division soon tiled off in the utmost si- 
lence, recrardinir those whom they left behmd as the. 
destined prey of the cossacks. 

It was necessary to pass the enemy during* a nighty 
which, instead of protecting us by its obscurity, sud- 
denly presented a t)eautitul unclouded moon* Th» 
snow, covering the surface of ihe ground, rendered 
our march more coiispicuous, and it was not without 
terror that we saw ourselves flanked by clouds of cos- 
sacks, who continually ap,»roaChed close to us, as if 
to reconnoitre, and then returned to the squadrons, 
from which they had been detached. We often, 
thcnight tliat they were about to cliarge lis, but gene-> 
j*aS Tnaire, halting his column, presented a front so 
imposing, that ihey did not dare to at ack us. At 
length, tn spite of the ravines, and the mountaiiis of 
snow that obstructed our passage, we reached the 
great road, and half an hour afterwards, eflected a 
junction with the young guard, which encamped neaf 
91 river half a league from Krasnoe. There we found 
the emperor, and there consequently, our fears were 
dissipated. 

Recounting to the soldiers of the guard the com-^ 
bat which we had sustainedj they informed us^ 
->3? 



290 KRASNOE. 

they likewise had been obliged to cut their wajl' 
tbrong-h the enemy. Napoleon was exposed to the 
most immii.ent danger in thisen gagement, and was 
indel>ted for his safely to tie bravery of his troops. 
We were told that the band of the guard, rejoining 
him, afler having been separated from him in the heat 
of the battle, mimediately struck up the air, * Where 
can we i>e Isappier than in the bosom of om- family.' 
But, as lh>s miiiht have a doul)le meaning in the nndsi 
of fjozen deserts, he understood it in the worst sense, 
aid said to the musicians, in a rough tone of voice, 
* You had much better play, " Let us awake and save 
the empire." ' 

ThestafFof the emperor, his guard, his cavaby, 
and the fourth corps, forming a junction in this little 
town, so completely filled it, that it was scarcely pos* 
sible to move. The streets were thronged with sol- 
diers lying round their fires, which they could oisly 
ki^^fp up by demolishing the houses that were built 
with wood, and burning the doors and window-frames 
of the others. 

The viceroy was well received at the quarters of 
the emperor, in spile of the ill humour which he felt 
in consequence of the late disgraces, to which he had 
been unaccnsttmed. He l.fighly]approved of the stra» 
tagem that had been employed to deceive the enemy. 
The prince remaining all night in conference, hissuite 
encamped in the streets, until Napoleon and the vice- 
roy, placing themselves at the head of the gnvrc), 
marched on the position which iht Russians occupi- 
ed, to succour the first and third corps, whe were in 



KRASNOK, 201 

the same perilous situation, in which we had been 
placed on the preceding- evening*. 

A new eng-ag'ement commenced. The action was 
obstinate and bloody, and it was only by the great- 
est sficritices, that we were enabled to save the few 
soldiers who were on their march to join us. The third 
corps wasenlireiy dispersed, and there remained with 
the duke of £ichingen, only two or three thousand 
men, who had escaped from tUe enemy by passiiig the 
Nieper, Twenty-five pieces oj cannon, and maa^^ thoa^ 
sands of prisoners, were the fruits which the Kussiaus 
reaped from four successive battles, in wi)ich we had 
nothing to oppose against a complete army, but some 
miserable soldiers, harassed by coi.tiuual marches, 
and who, during more dian a month, had been with- 
out food, without ammuiiitioii, and without artillery. 

To reward the bravery of the Russian imperial 
g-uard, who had distinguished themselves in these 
different engagements, prince Kutusoff permitted 
them to carry all the trophies of victory from the 
field of battle to their camp. Among these, was the 
baton of the marshal prince of Eckmuhl.* But that 
baton, used by our marshals on days of ceremony 
alone, added no glory to the enemy, for they found 
it, doubtiess, in a baggage-waggon that had been 
abandoned. 

The Russians have divided our retreat inlo three 
principal epochs, which, besides the constant increase 

* See the official report of our retreat, published by the R«g 
sians at Wilna, December 22, 1812. 



293 KRASNOE, 

of onr misfortimes, have each a peculiar rharactei\ 
The first etided at the batlle of Krastioe ihe second 
at tie passage of the Beresuja, and the third at JN e- 
jnen. 

Althe conchision of the first period, ^o which we 
nre now arrived, the^ had ah'eadv taken forty thou- 
sand men, Iweutv-seven <>esiera!s, five hundred pieces 
of cannon ; thu'ty-one standaids, and, beside onr own 
immense bagga ore, all the pluiidt r of Moscow, th «t 
we had not destroyed. If, to all these disasters, ve 
yet add forty thousand more, dead of fatig'ue, or fa- 
mine, or killed in the different batt!es, we shall fisd 
that our army w-<.s reduced to thirty tiiOusand, in- 
ch'din^ the imperial guard, of whom not more than 
eig'ht thousaral combatants survived. The twenty-five^ 
puces of artillery , which the guards had preserved, 
could not be reckoned, since it was uncertain wheth= 
er they would not be oblig^ed to abandon them on 
the morrow. Onr cavalry was almost extinct. This 
is the exact statement of the losses which we bad 
suslajt ed, at the end of one month's march. From 
this we formed mournful presages of what we were 
■\et lo ei dure, since we were scarcely half way to the 
K'f men, and had three rivers to cross, and two muun- 
tamg to ciimbo 



JsOOK 1X\ 



THE BERESINjL. 



The dreadful disisters which we had endured 
in our retreat from Moscow to Krasnoe, led us to 
conclude that our misfortunes must have reached 
their utmost height, and that happier eve ts would 
succeed. In fact, the nobie position of Orcha be- 
ing- guarded by g-eneral Joui ini we were assured 
that we should pass tlie Nieper without opposition, 
and effect a junction with the corps of g-enerar Dom- 
browski, and the dukes of Regg o and Beiliuio ; 
jnoreover we were approaching the line of our rnaga-. 
zines, and vve should soon enter on an iiihabited aad 
friendly country. In fine, prince Kutusoff, wish- 
ing to concert his plan of attack with the army of 
Moldavia, which was ready to join hira, ceased to 
harass us, and leserved for the Beresina, the great 
results which the battle of Krasnoe had promised 
him. 

All these advantages, on which it was said that 
we might build the surest hopes, imposed on the 
soldiers only for a short time. They who were best 
acquainted with the state of affairs, soon dissipated 



2i^4 BERESINA. 

our illusions, by circulating- the report that admiral 
Tschikakoff, coming' from the Danube, had re- 
pulsed, near Varsovia, the troops tliat opposed his 
passag"e ; that the Austrians had suffered him to take 
Minsk ; and that by seizing- the bridge of Borisov, 
on the Beresina, the admiral intended to torm a 
junclion with' generals Wittgenstein asid Stengel. 
These generals, in fact, being no longer held m 
check by the twelfth and sixteenth corps, since the 
battle of Polotsk, bad gone, the one on Vdeika, to 
^attack the Bavarians, and the other towards Tschach- 
iiiki. to place itself in communication with the army 
of Moldavia. Oil this junction depended the 
fate of the French army, and it was to prevent the 
most dreadful, and the most memorable of all de- 
feats, that Napoleon advanced by forced marches on 
the Beresina. 

(I'lovember 1 7th.) As soon as the prince of 
Eckmuhl had joined us, and the duke of Elchingeii 
had thrown himself on the other side of the Nieper, 
-we leftKrasnoe, about eleven o'clock in the morn- 
ing, and marched towards Liadoui. During the 
short repose that-we had taken at Krasnoe, the cos- 
sacks had passed by that city, and nov* , ranged in 
columns, followed us, along the road. They did not 
venture to attack the armed soldiers; but perceiving 
that the small remains of our baggage was stopped, 
and in great disorder from the difficuUy which the 
horsesfoui d in clearing the valley which separated 
the town from a little hill, they rushed upon them, 
and plundered them without resistance. We there 



BERESINA. 295 

lost the ba^^age-wag-g'on of tlie staff, which contain- 
ed the registers of correspondeiice, and all the 
plans, charts, and memoirs, relative to the campaig-n. 
Nig'ht began to overtake us as we entered Liadoui, 
Above a little river, which we were to cross previ- 
ous to our arrival at Liadoui', was a iofty hill, the 
side of which was so slippery as to render the de- 
scent not a little dangerous. The town offered a 
new aspect to us, for there we first saw inhabitants. 
Although they were Jews, we forgot the filthiness of 
that venal people, and by force of entreaty, or rather 
by force of nlO'iey, we made them iiad considerable 
resources, in a town that at first appeared to be ruin- 
ed. Thus that cupidity, the object of our supreme 
contempt in the Jews, was advantageous to us, be- 
cause it made them brave every danger to procure us 
what we demanded. 

Liadoui forming part of Lithuania, we thought 
that it would have been respected, because it belong- 
ed to ancient Poland. We departed before day- 
break on the following morning (November 19), 
when, to our great astonishment, we were, as usual, 
lighted by the fire of the houses. That coisflagratioa 
produced one of the most horrible scenes of our whole 
retreat, and my pea would refuse to recount it, if 
the recital of our misfortunes had not for its object, 
and its moral, to render odious that fatal ambition, 
which forced the most civilized people to become 
barbariiyisin war. 

Amongst the buildings which were burning, were 
three vast barns, filled with soldi«fs, most of whom 



295 BeMfsinAo 

werf wonnfied. They oonUI not esrane from t1i« 
two which were t>eh ijI, wiHiO'it pa'-i^in^ through \he 
one that was in froni, and ih^t was enveloped ill 
flames. The most active saved themselves by leap-.^ 
sn^-oiit of the windows ; bnt the sick and the wounded, 
onahle to move, saw, wi'h horrible consternation* 
the flames rapidly a<lvancmor to devour them. Moved 
hy the cries, with which these on! appy beings rent 
the air, some, whose hearts were less hardened thaa 
others, attempted to save them. Vain eflbrt ! Before 
we could reach them, they were more than half 
buried uisder the burning- rafters. Eag-'erly did they 
cry to their comrades throug-h ihe whirlwinds of fire, 
to shorten their suflerinos by immediately depriving 
them of life, ft became the painful duty of humanity 
to comply with their entjealies. * Fire upon us, 
lire upon us, at the head, at the head ; do not hesi- 
tate,' were the cries which proceeded from every 
part of the building, nor did they cease, tdi every 
wretched victim was consumed. 

We quickly entered into Boubrowna. That 
town was in a belter state of preservation than any 
through which we had passed in our journey from 
Moscow. It had a Polonese sub- prt. feci, and a com- 
mandant of the town, The inhabita: ts were pnnci- 
pally Jews, who procured us a itlle flour, brandy, 
and metheglin. They also exchinged the paper- 
money of the soldiers for cash. Jn tine, astonishid 
at the confidence of these Israelites, r.nd the honesty 
of our soldiers, who paid for everN hi-g \^hich they 
look, we thought piealy whs ab«ul to itvistt us, and 



berfsinAo 201? 

that our misfortunes were near their close. "Fet we 
were slruggiin^ under accumu ated evils. ' Bread! 
bread !' was the incessasit cry of the fetb'e remains 
of our once powerful army. The followers of tlie 
camp of every kmd, greatly suffered : particularly 
the commissaries and store-keepers, who had been 
little accustomed to privations. But none were 
more to l)e pitied than the physicians, and especially 
the surgeons, who, without hope of advancementj 
exposed themselves, like the common vsoldiers, by 
dressing them on the field of b stt'e. Whde We were 
nt Doubrowna, I saw a young surgeon near a house 
which the soldiers surrounded in crowds, because ife 
was reported that provisions were to be procured 
there. He was plunged in the proioundept grief, and 
with an eager and anxious countenance, was violently 
endeavouring to iorce his way into the place. But;^ 
when he was again and agiin driven back by the 
crowd, he exhibited the wildest despair. 1 ventured 
lo inquire the cause. * Ah, captain !' said he, * I 
am a lost man. For two da^s 1 have had no food,* 
and ascertaining that they sold bread in this house, I 
gave the sentinel six francs to suffer me to enter* 
But while the bread was yet in the oven, the Jew 
would not promise to supply me, unless I gave hint 
a louis in advance. I consented, but when I came 
back the sentinel was changed, and I was crueiiy re- 
pulsed from the door. Ah, sir !' continued he, * I 
am, indeed, unfortunate ; I have lost all the n.or.ey 
that 1 had in the world, and auab^e to protur«i*a 
•3^ 



208 BEKESINA. 

morse] of brf^ul, though I have not tasted any for 
more than a month ' 

At that moment, Napoleon passed by in a closd 
chariot filled with furs. He wore, likewise, a pe^ 
li.ssp and bonnet of sable-skin, which prevented him 
from feehng- the severity of the weather. On the 
dav when wf^ ar' ived at Doubrowna, he had marched 
a jofreat part of the vvay on foot ; and, during that march, 
he could easily conceive himself to what a miserable 
state his army was reduced, and how much he had 
been deceived bv the false reports which some erene- 
ra's had made, who, knowing how dangerous it was 
to confess the truth, did not dare to acquaint him 
wnth the real stale of things lest they should incur his 
displeasure. As he had often experienced the won- 
derful effects 01 his discourse on the soldiers, he once 
more mmsrled amongf them, and addressinar himself 
angrily to ihe officers, and familiarly and jestingly to 
the soldiers, he endeavoured to inspire the one with 
fear, ad the others with courage. But the time of 
enthusiasm vi^as passed, when one word irow him 
would have produced miracles. His tyranny had 
oppressed and debased us, and, stifling within us 
every generous feeling, had deprived him of the only 
means of reanimating our drooping spirits. Napo- 
leon was most affected at seeing his old guard equally 
dispirited and despairing. \^.'ouaded to the very 
soul, he assembled a party of them before he quitted 
Doubrowna, and, placing himselt in their centre, re- 
commended the office rs to mair.lain strict discipline? 
and reminded them that they had always been the 



BERESINA. 299 

p^ride of his army, and that to their bravery he had 
often been indebted for the most spleitdid victor es. 
But sentiments hke these were out of season, and the 
ijian, who destitute of virtue aspired to the character 
of a hero, now too plainly found, that the grandest 
projects were followed by no g"lory, when they had 
not some laudable object, and when their execution 
was beyond the scope of human ability. 

(November 19th.) Half an hour after we quitted 
Dombrowna, we passed a very wide and deep ravisie, 
throuirh which flowed a considerable river. The o)> 
posite bank completely commanded that at which 
we had arrived. On speing this important position, 
we thanked heaven that the Russians had not seized 
upon it to oppose our passage, and this gave us rea- 
son to hope that the village of Orcha was not occu- 
pied by them. In fact, some troops lately arrived 
from France, maintamed themselves there, and we 
effected a junction with them at two o'clock in the af- 
ternoon, without being harassed by the cossacks. This 
was a new instance of good fortune, for in the disorder 
in which we then were, it would have been impossible 
for us to have forced either of these strong positions. 

These troops had constructed two bridges over thp 
Is[ieper, and as every one rushed on to pass first, 
the crowd was immense, yet fortunately no accident 
occurred. Napoleon arrived at Orcha soon after us, 
and in an instant every house was occupied. The 
Jews, as usual, immediately procured us triflmg re- 
freshments, but the number of purchasers W9.§ so great, 
ll)at all was soon consumed. 



SOO BERESINA. 

The more T examined the position of Orcba, the? 
greater was my astonishment that the Russians had 
Dot taken possession of it. The town is built on tl>e 
rig-ht bank of the Nie[>er, which rises considerably 
higher than the Itft. Many projections appear from 
the bank in the form of natural bastions, and perfectly 
comm md the passage. The river flows immediately 
beneath, and is about one thousand two hun- 
dred feet wide, and of immense depth. The most 
formidable army could not pass it without being* ex- 
pos<"(l to entire ruin. While we halted upon these 
heig"hts, we heard many discharges of musketry, 
ad shortly afterwards, we saw those who had been 
lef} on the other s:de retiring with the greatest preci- 
pitation, and crying- as they approached us, ^ The 
Cossacks, the cossacks.' In fact, they soon actually 
appeared, but in numbers so small, that we should 
have been indignant, if those who fled before them 
had not been wretched stragglers, without arms, and 
mostly wounded. 

(November 20lh.) On the following" day we 
were uimiolested, except that we occasionally heard 
some discharges of musketry, directed against the 
cossacks ; but accustomed to see them advance upoij 
us, and immediately betake themselves to flight when 
faced by the reg"ular troops, their presence gave us no 
uneasiness. We were thus permitted to taste undis- 
turbed, the sweets of one day's repose, and some pro- 
visions were distributed amongst us, which general 
Jomini, governor of Orcha, had preserved for the 
passage of the army. They proved the more accept- 



BF.RESINA, 301 

able to lis, as we had received no rations of bread since 
our retreat from Smolensko, the magazines of 
Krasnoe having" been pillaged by the cossacks before 
we arrived.* 

If the day was franqnil, the night was much dis- 
turbed. The duke o E chuigen, who, since the 
disastrous day of KraSi.oij, had bee t obliged to aban- 
don the road that we pursued, and seek a safer re- 
treat on the other side of the N:eper, had been 
esigaged with the es.emy duruig three whole days. 
That march, m which he had recourse to every ma- 
noeuvre that the most extraordnrary courage and 
talents couid effect, completed his brilliant reputa- 
tion. His valour was seconded by the generous 
Hiovement of the prince viceroy, who proceeded by 
forced marches to succour hnii, and whose assistance 
effected his dehverance. 

(November 21st.) We marchsd from Orcha at 
the moment that they began to set st on fire. An we 
climbed the mountain to recover the grand road, 
we heard a considerable firing of musketry. It pro- 
ceeded from the soldiers of the first corps, who had 
been left in the town to form the tear-guard, and 
who were already engaged with the cossacks. 

During our stay at Orcha, Napoleon, foreseeing 
that he should soon be placed in a most critical situa- 

* I ought to observe, that only the soldiers who were pre- 
sent at the roll call, receired any distribution, and they did not 
form a fifth part of thearojy ; and there were only three distribu- 
tions in the space of two months, namely, at Smolensko, at Orcht^, 
liud atKovvno. 



^m BERESINA. 

iion, made every effort to rally his troops. He caused 
it to be proclaimed by sound of trumpet, and by 
three colonels, that every soldier who did not imme- 
diately rejoin his regiment should be punished with 
death ; and that every officer or g-euera!, who aban- 
doned his post, should be dismissed. Bui when we 
regained the great road, we perceived what little efr 
feet this measure had produced. All was ui the most 
frightful confusion, and in contempt of this severe pro- 
clamation, the soldiers, naked and without arms, con- 
tinued to march in the sjime disorder. 

We e*ncamped at a sorry village on our right, 
where two or three habitations remained, at the dis- 
tance of an hour's march from l^okanovo. The vil- 
lage of Kokanovo, which we passed on the following 
day, was entirely ruined, j the posjt-house, which had 
been inhabited by the staff, alone remained. We 
continued our march along a road which the thaw 
had rendered horribly dirty, when we received orders 
i^ot to push forward to Toiotschin, where Napoleon 
had fixed his quarters but to halt at a great chateau 
half a league distant. 

The road of Orcha, as far as Toiotschin, is un- 
doubtedly one of the best in Europe. It forms a per- 
fectly straight line, and is bordered on each side by a 
«3ouble row of birch-trees, the branches of which, la- 
den with snow and ice, hungslown to the ground like 
the weeping willow. But these majestic avenues ex- 
cited in us no admiration. They witnessed only our 
tears and our despair. On every side we heard only 
groans and lamentationSc Some, teelmg that they 



SteRESINA. <^iU' 

tfould proceed no further, laid themselv€^> on the 
ground, and with tears in their eyes, gave us their 
papers and their money to be conveyed to their fami- 
lies. * Ah ! If more fortunate than we,' they ex- 
claimed, * you are permitted to re-visit our dear 
country, give our* parents this last pledge of our love. 
Tell them that the hope of seeing them again alone 
sustained us till this day ; and that at leigih, compel- 
led to renounce this pleasing expectation, we dsed 
thinking of them, an<J blessing therai. Adieu, God 
bless you ! When on yotn* return to our beloved 
France, you rejoice in your good forlanej think, 
sometimes, of our urdiappy fate.' A little further 
on we met others, who, holding in their arais their fa- 
mished children or their wives, implored one morsel of 
bread to preserve their lives* 

In the meantime, Napdeon was informed thai the 
army of Wolhynia,' joined to that of Moldavia, had 
marched on Mnisk (Nov. 16th,) and that it had 
seized on the bridge of Borisov, to cut us off from the 
passage of the Beresina. He also knew, that the ar- 
my of Wittgenstein, reinforced by the division of 
Stengel, sharply pressed the twelfth and sixteenth 
corps, that it might be enabled to march on the Bo- 
risov, and form a junction with admiral Tschikakoff 
and prince Kutusoff. To oppose the execution of 
a plan which would complete our ruin, Napoleoa 
sent general Dombrowski against the army of Wo!-- 
hynia, hoping also that he might anticipate it, ia 
seizing the bridge of Borisov. This general did es- 
tablish himself there, but he was forced to evacuate 



304 BERESIKA. 

his posilioii (Nov. 2Sd.) The enemv havin»' then 
passed the Beresina, marched upon Bohr, and came, 
to meet «s. The twelfth corps coniaianded by *he 
duke of Kegg"io, whuli was at Tsch^reia, received 
orders io proceed irimiedia»ely lolhe succour of g-e- 
neral Dombrowski, and to secnie or the army the 
ps^ssage of the Beresina. On rhe following d:»T 
(Nov. 24th) he met the division of the Russian gene- 
rai Lambert, four leao;-ues on t'>is side of Borisov.. 
He attacked and beat it. At the sume time jjenerai 
Berkheim made a brilliant chir^e witi the fourth re- 
giment of chasseurs, and forced l».e enemy to retreat 
to ihe other bank of the river, after havinjr lost two 
thousas'd men, six cannon and a quantity o\' baggage. 
The Russians having deslro\ea in ther flight the 
great bridge of Bonsov, defen ed all the right bank 
of the Beresina, and occupied, with our divisionSj 
the principal points where we c«Mii<t possibly attempt 
to pass it. During ihe 25 h, Na.)ohH)n manoeijvred 
to deceive the vigilance of the enemy, and, by strata- 
Si;em, obtained possessioi* o. the vdlaoe of Studzianca^, 
placed on an eminence that con manded the river 
wh ch vve wished to pass. Thete, i * tiie presence of 
the Russians, and notwithstandir.g their utmost op- 
position, he constructed iv^o bridges, of which the 
duke of Reggio profitinl to cross the Br-resina ; and 
attacking the troops w huh opposed h.s passage, he 
pitt them to flight, and pur-ued th». ni, w ihont mlef'- 
mission, to the istaci of ihe bridge of ijorisov. Ge- 



iSEifEsnyA, 306 

aeral Le^rand, an officer of distinguished merit, wais 
wounded in this affair. 

The duke of Belluno, who for some days had 
kept the corps of Wittgenstein in check, having re- 
ceived orders lo follov* the movements of the duke of 
K<"ggio, was pursued in his retreat by the Kussiau 
army of the Dwina, which had then formed a junc- 
tion with prince Kutu-soff, near Lothnstza. During 
all these operations, which took phice between the 
f3d and '^liU of November, we passed four dreadful 
davs, traversing many villages, among which we 
could only Jearn the names of Bohr and Kraupki, 
•where fatigue compelled us halt. The days were 
so sh rt, that allhou^h we made but little progress, 
we were obliged to march during part of the night 
ll was from this cause that so many unhappy wrel( h- 
es wandered from their regiments, and were lost. 
Arriving very late at the encampments, where all the 
corijs were confounded together, they could not d^s- 
ti' guish or learn the situation of the regiment to 
which they beloiiged. Alter having marched the 
whole day, they were often compelled to wander 
about all- the night to find their officers, and rarely 
were they sufficiently fortunate to accomplish their 
object ; they then laid themselves down to sleep, ig- 
norant of the hour of march, and on awaking, found 
themselves in the power of the enemy. 

As we passed the Borisov, we saw the division of 

Partho'ineaux forming the rear-guard of the ninth 

corps. We then quitted the great road that led to 

the bridge occupied by the RAissians, and turned tQ 

39 



306 BERESINA. 

the risfbt to proceed to Studzianca, w>»pre we found 
IVapoleon. The other troops of the ninth corps, com- 
manded by the duke of Belluno, arrived likewise by 
the same road. 

The twelfth a: id ninth corps, and the Poles, com* 
manded by genera! Dombrow ki, not having been at 
Moscow, had so much bag-gage, that from Borisov to 
Studzianca the road was covered with carriages and 
waggons. The reinforcements which these troops 
brought us were very acceptable, yet we almost 
doubted whether the junction of so many men, in the 
centre of a vast desert, might not increase our miisfor- 
tunes. Alwavs marching in the midst of a coiifus- 
e<s mass of stragglers, with the divisions of the ninth 
corps, we were two hours afterwards arrested in our 
progress bv a great crowd, and, unable to penetrate, 
we were compelled to march round it. In the midst 
of this multitude were some paltry barns, on the sum- 
mit of a little hill. Seeing" some chasseurs of the im- 
periai guard encamped around it, we judged that Na- 
poleon was there, and that we were approaching the 
borders of the Beresina. In fact, it was the very spot 
where Charles XII crossed that river, on his march t© 
Moscow.* 

What a frightful picture did this multitude of 
men present, overwhelmed with misfortunes of every 
kind, and hf^mmed in by a morass; th it very multi- 
tude whch, two months before, had ex ultingly spread 
itself over halt the surface of a vast empire ! Ouir sol- 

« June 25th, 1708. 



EERESINA. 307 

diers, pale, emnciated, dyin^ with hunger and cold, 
having nothing to defend them from the inclemency of 
the season, but tattered pehsses, and sheep-skins half 
burnt, and uttering the most mournful lamentations, 
^crowded the banks of this unfortunate riv-er. Ger- 
mans, Poianders, Italians, Spaniards, Croats, Portu- 
guese, and French, were all mingled together, disput- 
ing among thtmselves, and quarrelling with each 
other, in their diherent languages:— filially, the offi- 
cers, and eyen the generals, wrapped m pelisses c<> 
vered with dirt and filth, confounded with the sol- 
diers, and abusing those who pressed upon them, or 
braved their authority, formed a scene ot strange con- 
fusion, of which no painter could trace the laintest 
resemblance. 

They, whom fatigue, or ignorance of the impend- 
ing danger, rendered less eager to cross the river, 
■were endeavouring U} kindle a fire, and repose their 
yeaned limbs. We had, too frequently, occasion to 
observe, in these encampments, to what a degree of 
bi utality, excess of misery would debase human na- 
ture. I-i one place we saw several of the soldiers 
fighting for a morsel of bread. If a stranger, pierced 
with the cold, endeavoured to approach afire, those 
to whom it belonged inhumanly drove him away ; or, 
if tormented with raging thirst, any one asked for a 
single drop of water irom another who carried a full 
supply, the refusal was accompanied by the vilest 
abuse. We often heard those who had once been 
friends, and whose education had been liberal, bitter- 
ly disputing with each other for a little straw, or a 



SOi BERESINA. 

piece of horse flesh, which they were attempting' to 
divide. This campaign was therefore the more terri- 
ble, Hs it brutalized the character, and stained us uUh 
vices to which we had before been straitgers. Even 
those who once were honest, humane, and g-enerous, 
became selfish, avaricious, dislionest, and cruel. 

IVapoleon havinjr, with the assistance of his g-uard, 
forced his way throug-h this immense crowd, crossed 
the river (November 27) about three o'clock in the 
aftrritoon. The viceroy, whohnd passed the wholeday 
with him, aiiiouKced to his staff, that what remained 
of the fourth corps should pass the bridge at eight 
o'clock at night. Although not a moment should 
have been lost in escaping- trom a place so dangerous,, 
many could not | revail on themselves to leave the 
fires, round which they were sittings ' It is much 
better,' said they, 'to pass the night on this side of 
the river than on the other, where there is nothingbufc 
marshes ; besides, the bridge is as much encumbered 
as ever, and by waiting till to-morrow, the crpwd will 
have lessened, and the passage wiil be GusyJ' This 
unfortunate advice prevailed on too many, and at the 
hour appointed, only the household of the prince, and 
a few of the officers ot" the staff crossed the river. 

It \^as, indeed, necessar)/ to know all the dang-er 
that would have attended our stay on the left side of 
the river, to induce us to pass to the other. The 
viceroy and his suite, arriving on the right bank, en- 
camped on a m&rshy piece of ground, and endeavour- 
ed tofiiid out the places which were mo t frozen, to 
pass the night on them and escape the bogs. The 



BERESINA. S09 

darkness was horrible, and the wind tremendous, 
bh)wing a th t-k sh 'wer of ice and snow full in our 
faces. Man of the officers, pierced with the cold, 
did not cease running-, and walking, and striking 
their feet, during the whole night, to preserve them- 
selves from being completely frozen. To complete 
our misfortunesj w )od was so scarce, that we could 
with difficulty supp'y one little tire for the viceroy ; 
and to obtan some firebrands, we were obliged to 
appeal to the Bavarian soldiers, the daughter of 
whose king had been united in marriage to prince 
Eugene. 

(November 28th.) Napoleon being gone towards 
Zembin, left behind hmi this immense crowd, 
which, .standing on the other side of the Beresina^ 
presented a lively, but frightful picture of the un- 
happy ghosts who are said to wander on the banks 
of the Styx, and press tumultuously towards the 
fatal barge. The snow fell with violence ; the lulls 
and forest presented only some white indistinct 
masses, scarcely visible through the fog. We 
could only see distinctly the fatal river, which, half 
frozen, forced its way through the ice that impeded 
its progress. 

Although there were two bridges, one for the 
carriages, and the other for the foot-soldiers, yet the 
crowd was so great, and the approaches so danger- 
ous, that near the Beresi'sa, the passage was com^ 
pletely choked up, and it was absolutely impossible 
to move. About eight o'clock in the morning, the 
bridge for the carriages and the cavalry broke down j 



13 T@ tBERESINA. 

llie bagsrn2;e and artillery then advanced towards the 
other bridj^e, and attempted to force a pass:>g"e. 
ISow besfan a frightful contention between the foot- 
soldiers and the horsemen. Many perished by the 
Iiands of their comrades, but a great number were. . 
suffocated at the head of the bridg-e ; and the dead 
bodies of men and horses, so choked every avenue, 
that it was necessary to climb over mountains of car- 
casses to arrive at the river. Some, who were buried 
311 these horrible heaps, still breathed, and struggling 
With the agonies of death, caught hold of those who 
mounted over them ; bat these kicked them with vio- 
lence, to disengage themselves, and, without re-^ 
morse, trod them under foot. During this conten- 
tion, the multitude which followed, like a furious 
wave, swept away, while it increased the number of 
victims 

The division of Parthonneaux, which formed the 
rear-guard, having received orders to return, lett a, 
brigade to burn the bridge. That brigade, setting 
out two hours afterwards io rejoin the first, found it 
no more, Doubdess, it had hastened its retreat, for 
it has now been fully proved, that ge'-eral Parthon- 
neaux, who had been unjustly accused ot abandon- 
ing his troops, received three or lour orders in the 
course of the day, which rentlered him uncertain 
how to act, and placed him m a very critical situa- 
tion. Be thisasitmn}, the second brigade lost its 
way, and wandered more than three leagues in a 
wrong direction, In the middle of a dismaliiight, 
and pierced with cold, it mistook the tires of the 



BERESINA. oil, 

enemy for ours, and ran to join us ; When, seeing itself 
surrounded, and without the least hope of escape, it 
was compelled to surrender. 

Borisov being- 'evacuated, the three Russian ar- 
mies effected their junction, and the same day 
(November 28th), about eight o'clock in the morsi- 
incr, the duke of Reg-gio was attacked on the right 
bank, and half an hour afterwards the duke of Bel- 
luno was engaged on the left. Every soldier, who 
had before been wanderinqr in conkision, fell into the 
ranks. The battle was obstinatelv fought, and the 
duke of Reggio couid only obtain the victory at the , 
price of his own blood. He was wounded at the be- 
ginning of ihe action, anj^ compelled to quit the field. 
The command then devolved oa the duke of Eichia- 
^^e;n. 

In the meantime the enemyj notwithstanding the 
valour of our soldiers^ and the exertions of their 
commanders, briskly pressed the ninth corps, which 
formed tiie rear- guard. We already heaid the roar 
of the cannon, and ihe sound dismayed every heart. 
Insensibly it approached, a.;d we soon saw the fire of 
the enemy's artdlery on the summit of the neighbour- 
ing hills, and we no longer doubted that the engage- 
ment V^. ould soon extend to that spot which was cover- 
ed With thousa^nds ot" unarmed men, sick and wound- 
ed, and with all our women and children. 

The duke ol' Elchingen, having rallied his troops, 
the battle recommenced with new fury. The divi- 
sion of cuirassiers, commanded by general Doumerc, 
made a very brilliant charge, and at the same m^- 



312 BERESlNAc 

ment the legion of the Yistula was eng-ag-ecl in the 
woods, endeavouring to force the enemy's centre. 
These brave cuirassiers, although enfeebled by fa- 
lig'ue and privations of every kind^ performed prodi- 
gies of valour. They pierced the enemy's squares, 
look several pieces of cannon, and three or four ihou- 
«and prisoners, which our vveakness would not per- 
mit us to retain : for in our cruel situation we fought 
not for victory^ but only for life, and the honour of our 
arms. 

Jn the heat of the engagement, many balls flew 
over the miserable crowd which was yet pressing' 
across the bridge of ihe Beresina. Some slteiis burst 
in the midst of them. T^^rrqr and despau* then took 
possession of every heart. The women ad chd- 
dren, who had escaped so many disasters, seemed lo 
have been preserveti, only lo suffer 1 ere a. death still 
more deplorab e. We saw Ihem rushirg from the 
bagg-age-waggons, ar.d falling in agonies and tears at 
the feet of the first soldier they met, implor.ng his 
assistance to enable them to reach the other side. 
The sick and the wounded, sitting on tliC trunks of 
trees, or supported by their crutches, anxiously 
looked around for some friend to help them. But 
their cries were lost in the air. No one had leisure 
lo attend to his dearest friend. His owp preservation 
absorbed every thought. 

Monsieur de Labarriere, the muster-master of the 
fourth corps, was a man of respectable charicter, a.. d 
engaging manners. His advanced age, and more es- 
peciaily his fetbie constitution, haa long rt;n«ered 



BEEESlNA. 813 

him nnahle to march, and he was now Ivinsr with 
many others on an open sledge. He accidentaHy 
perceived an officer of his acquaintance, ai d althonoh 
he was scarcely able to stand, he ran to him, threw 
himself in his arms, and implored his protection. 
The officer was severely wounded, but, too generous 
to refuse his feeble help, he prom it^ed thai he would 
not leave him. These two friends, closely embrac- 
ing- each other, slowly proceeded towards the bridge 
animate<l by the consoling- thought, that at least they 
would be permitted to die tog-ether. Ti^ey entered 
the crowd ; but, feeble and hei|)less, they were una- 
ble to sustain the intolerable pressure, and were seen 
no more. 

A woman was likewise marching with the equi- 
page of Napoleon, whom her husband had left a little 
way behind, while he went forward to endeavour to 
fi ,d a place where they might safely pass. During 
that time a shell burst near the unfortunate female. 
The crowd that was asouud her, iuuoediately took to 
fliijht. She alone remained. But the enemv soon 
advaacisio;-, caused the soldiers to rush back all at 
once to the bridge, and, in their confused march, 
they hurried the poor woman with them, who strove 
in vain to return to the place where her husband had 
left her. Bafleted by the tumultuous waves, she 
saw herself driven from tise spot, without the possi- 
bility of return. We heard her from afar, loudly 
calling to her husband, but her [ 'ercmg voice was 
nnuttended to, amidst the noivse of a ms, and the cries 
of the soldiers. At length, pale and speichless, sh© 
40 



S14 BERESINA. 

beat her breast in agony, and fell lifeless at the feet 
of the soldiers, who, attentive to their own escape^ 
neither saw nor heard her. 

Al length the Russians, cdntindally reinforced by 
fresh troops, advanced in a mass, and drove before 
them the Polonese corps of general Girard, which till 
then had held them in check. At the sight of the 
enemy, those who had not already passed, mingled 
with the Polanders, and rushed precipitately towards 
the bridge. The artillery, the baggage-waggons> 
the cavalry, and the foot-soldiers, all pressed on, 
contending which should pass the first. The strong- 
est threw mto the river those who were weaker, and 
hindred their passage, or unfeelingly trampled under 
foot all tlie sick whom they found in their way. 
Many hundreds were crushed to death by the wheels 
of the cannon. Oihers, hoping to save themselves 
by swimming, were frozen in the middle of the river, 
or perished by placing themselves on pieces of ice,, 
which sunk to the bottom. Thousands and thou- 
sands of victims, deprived of all hope, threw them- 
selves headlong into the Beresina, and were lost in 
the waves. 

The division of Girard made its way, by force of 
arms, through all the obstacles that retarded its 
march; and clmibing over that mountain of dead 
bodies which obstructed the way, gained the other 
side. Thither the Russians would soon have fol- 
lowed them, if 'hey had not hastened to burn the 
bridge. 



BERESINA. S15 

Then the unhappy beings who remained on the 
^iher side of the Beresina abandoned themselves to 
absolute despair. Some of them, however, yet at- 
tempted to pass the bridge, enveloped as it was in 
flames ; but, arrested in the midst of their progress, 
they were compelled to throw themselves into the ri- 
Ter, to escape a death yet more horrible. At length 
the Russians, being masters of the field of battle, our 
troops retired; the uproar ceased, and a mournful 
silence succeeded. 

As we marched towards Zembin, we re-ascended 
the right bank of the Beresina, whence we could dis- 
tinctly see all \hAt passed on the other side. The 
cold was excessive ; and the wind blew in loud and 
boUow gusts. Xhe pbscunty of the night was dis- 
sipated only by the numerous fires of the enemy, 
"who occupied the heights. At the foot of these hills 
were our unfortunate cpmpanions. Tueir destruc- 
tion was now inevitable, and, amidst all their former 
disasters, never were they exposed to, nor can ima- 
gination conceive, horrors equal to those which en- 
fcompassed them during that frightful night. The 
elements let loose, seemed to conspire to afHict uni- 
versal nature, and to chastise the ambition and the 
crimes of man. The conquerors and the conquered, 
were alike overwhelmed with $utferings. Round 
the encampment of the Russians, however, we saw 
enormous masses of burning wood, but on the spot 
which held our devoted companions, there was 
neither light nor shelter. Lamentable cries and 



316 BBRESINA. 

groans alon<^ marked the place which contained 
these misc rabie victims. 

More than ivventv ihoiisand sick and wounded 
fell ui to the power of the enemy. Two hundred pie- 
ces o cannon were abaiidoned. All the hag-g-age f 
tl.e two corps which had joined us was equally the 
prey of the conquerors ; ^et, when we coitempiated 
the (Jeplorable fate of the wretched beings who were 
left on the other side of the Beresina, the conscious- 
netjsofour safety rendered us insensible to the loss 
©fall our nclses. They were for ever deprived of 
the hope 01 revisiting- the land that gave diem birth; 
ai.d were doomed to pass ihe sad rtuiuant of their 
days am dst thtr snows of Siberia, where tiiey would 
water with thesr tears the black bread which would 
be [he only wages of the most humiliating servitude, 

(INovember 29ih.) Seltni«>- out on the morrow 
for Zembni, and endeavournsg to rejoin what re- 
mained of the fo'irih corps, we again conmiiserated 
the fate ot ti e numerous friends w{ o were no longer 
■With us. We eagerly end)raced those who had re- 
turned, whom we ad feared we sho.id never again 
have beiieid, a. id congratulated each other on sur- 
viving a day more ternbie than the bloodiest battle. 
We mutua'-ly recounted the dangers that we had run, 
and the difficulties with whicii we had struggled to 
esca-se wiih hfe. ' 1 have lost every thing,' said 
OS e, ' servaits, horses, bag-aj^e ; but I think not of 
it; I rather esteem myself must fortunate, that 1 have 
pit;seived my life, that I have escaped from the in- 
ciemeiicy of the weather, the horrors of famuie; aiid 



BERFSINA. 3 IT 

the arms of the enemy.' ' I have nothinqf but what 
I ;i carry abo ir me,' said a second, * and of all that I 
had, I only w-^h for some shoes to defend my feet, 
and some bread to eat : these are the truest riches.* 
* I have lost all,* exclaimed a third, ' but I do not 
regret it, since the sacriHce of my baggage has ena- 
bled me to save my wounded brother.' Such was 
the language which we heard, during several succes- 
sive days ; and those who were sdent, deeply mused 
on the dangers which H«ey had pussed, and rendered 
their secret but fervent thanks to Providence, for a 
preservation almost miraculous. 



BOOK X. 



^EE NIEMEN. 



The fatal passage of the Beresina having- reduced 
our corps of reserve to the same condition as those 
who had been as far as Moscow, realized the fatal 
predictions, which had long been announced to us ; 
and, with the exception of our chief (whose life Pro- 
vidence seems to have continued, only to deliver 
him to greater reinorse and despair,) ail was accom-^ 
plished. 

How dreadful was the punishment of this con^ 
queror, to lose the provinces which he occupied with 
more rapidity than he had invaded them ; to have the 
melancholy cypress, instead of the laurels of victory^ 
and cities smoking with recent slaughter, instead of 
the incense of applause ; and, finally, as the compa- 
nions of his triumph, twenty thousand disarmed sol- 
diers, without linen and without stockings, whose 
only shoes were contrived from their worn-out hats, 
%vhose shoulders were covered with pieces of sacking, 
and the skins of horses, newly flayed. 



320 THE NIEMENc 

These were deplorable remains of five hundred 
thousand brave warriors, who, but for ihe ambitiosi of 
a sing^le man, would aiwavs have been the honour of 
France, and the teiror of their enemies, 

(Noveniber 29ib.) We arrived very early at the 
viliaoe of Kainen, and were foisHnuin^' our route to 
Plescenkovice, uhen Colaud, con mas der of the ad- 
vanced-g'uard, re!ur!ie(i, and announced to us that 
two thousand coss icks had cnteitd the city, crying 
'Huurra!' and were massacrino;^ every one whom. 
they fouifd in the streets. ' The duke of Reg-^-io,* 
said he, ' being- wounded last night, was scarcely able 
to reach the place; but, happily, many officers hasten- 
ing to render hum assistance, or to die al his side, 
excited a fear in the enemy that we were contriving 
some ambush. They retired to a neighbouring 
height, and cannonaded the marshal's houj^e, to make 
it capitulate. As if a fatality pursued the duke of 
Reggio, a cannon-ball s'nking on a beam, broke off 
a splinter, by which he was again slightly wounded.* 
This officer likewise informed us, ' hat general Pino 
had been in the same quarters, ami that count Dan- 
thouard, on entering into Plescenkovice, had scarcely 
time to escape to his carnage.' 

This uews determined us to remain al Kamen, 
The next day (30th November) we set out before 
day-break, aud passing b;, Plescenkovice, the accounts 
wlrich we had received on the preceding evenuig, 
were confirmed. We snw the house where the duke 
ofReggio had taken up his quarters, and were sur- 
prised that two thousand cossacks liad not ventured to 



ffHE NTEMEN. 321 

carry off by force, a marshal who was only defended 
by twenty wounded officers. Napoleon halted in this 
city, but the viceroy continiting- his route, encamped 
in a deserted village, near Zavichino, which according 
to the map, was named Niestanovitsch. 

(December 1st.) The following day, about seven 
in the morning, the viceroy, accompanied by a few 
officers, placed himself at the head of some grenadiers 
of the royal guard, who yet remained faithful to their 
colours. After a very long march, for men exhaust- 
ed withfatifi^ue, we arrived at the town of Iliia. The 
Jews, forming the majority of the population^ had not 
quitted their houses, and the love of gain induced 
them to bring out some provisions, which they had 
intended to conceal. We paid them liberally, for in 
such a situation the poorest nourishment was prefer- 
able to gold. Without this assistance, we should 
have lost the brave and estimable colonel Durieu, 
whose health had much declined ; less perhaps On 
account of deprivations to which he had been expoa- 
ed, than the ardent zeal with which he fulfilled his 
important and laborious duties. 

(December 2d.) The next day, when we march- 
ed upon Molodetschino, was stilly more fatiguing 
and oppressive. We marched for twelve hours with- 
out halting, through an immense forest. The cold 
was excessive, and the only thing which could afford 
us consolation, was the persuasion, that the cossacks 
would no longer harrass our right. Captain Jouard, 

who had bf><^n sent to Vileika. to general Wr«de, ash 

4) 



222 THE 3SflEMEK. 

sured us that the Bavarians still maintained that ini 
porlant jDOsition. 

We were in a pitiable situation when we arrived 
at Molodetsehino. Happily the houses were i»ood, 
and some of the proprietors, who still remained, pro- 
cured us the means of subsistence. The next morn- 
ing* the equipages of Napoleon began to depart. They 
were scarcely out of the village, when a multitude of 
Cossacks presented themselves, and would have taken 
them, if they had not hastily returned to place them- 
selves under the protection of the troops, who yet re- 
tained their arms. The viceroy was preparing for his 
dejjarlure, when it was announced to him that we 
were to remain at Molodetsehino, but that he must 
evacuate the chateau which he occupied, for the use 
of Napoleon, who would soon arrive. 

This repose was the more precious as the ability 
to procure some provisions, by dint of searching for 
them, enabled us to employ it profitably. Neverthe- 
less, many soldiers expn*ed in the streets. The same 
desolation extended to the houses where the officers 
lodged. Some were sick from excessive fatigue, and 
protested that they could go no further ; others whose 
feet were frozen^ and who bad no horses, found them- 
selves obliged, though full of courage, to remain in 
the hands of the Russians. The generals were ex- 
posed to the same calamities, for many of them, hav- 
ing lost their servants and their carriages, were un- 
able to replace them. In such circumstances if the 
slightest sickness attacked them, they expired for 
want ©f assistance. Such was our situation in Mo- 



THE NIEMEX, 323 

lodetschino, when Napoleon wrote in characters of 
blood, the fatal twenty-ninth bulletin, which made 
France and her allies, a large family of mourners. 

(December 4th.) We quilted the village, but 
did not take the great road which leads through 
ZHchk^vitschi, directly to Smorghoni. We kept to 
the left of this rock, which, indeed, promised little 
safety, and pursued a by-road, which conducted us 
by Lebioda to Markovo. We encamped in this vil- 
lage with some soldiers of the first corps, while the 
emperor and his guard were at Bienitsa, about half a 
league from us. 

(December 6th.) Setting out for Smorghoni, 
we crossed some marshy country, which would have 
been absolutely impassable, had it not been for the rig- 
our of the season. It was therefore evident to us thai 
these regions are completely defended by their ver}'^ 
nature, and that, independent of the rigour of winter, 
the marshes of Lithuania would have been our grave. 
When we arrived at this little town, we did not find 
the resources which we had been promised. Ail the 
houses were deserted, and the Jews, having taken 
flight, had deprived us of their assistance. We found 
however, in the magazines, some casks of biscuitjj, 
which were immediately devoured^ 

Napoleon, terrified by so many disasters, and still 
more so by the fear of losing bis authority in France, 
conceived the idea of abandoning these miserable 
remains of his army, for the purpose of demanding 
from his senate new levies: and, tortured by that jusl; 
terror which always pursues the despot, he imagmeri 



^24- iPHE NIKMEW. 

that liis allies were eager to dissolve the compact, 
"which had placed them under his iron yoke. 

Full of this resolution, he felt assured, when he 
arrived at Smorghoni, that the road was safe as far as 
the Niemen, and called together the chiefs of the 
army. Afterwards he had a jjrivate conference with 
the viceroy. This being finished, Napoleon issued 
from his cabinet, followed by the master of the horse, 
the marshal of the palace, and general Lefebre Des- 
nouettes. Crossing one of the halls, he met the king 
of Naples, and said to him, with an indifferent air, 
^ Adieu, kin(/ of Naples r While pronouncing these 
words, he went out, accompanied by the three per- 
sons who were going with him. Being sealed in his 
carriage, he placed at his side general Desnouettes. 
The master of the horse, and the marshal of the pa- 
lace entered a second, which immediately followed 
on the route to Wilna. No address was made to the 
army, no proclamation to the Lithuanians, to reani- 
mate their dejected spirits. The one was without a 
chief, the other abandoned by him who had promised 
them every thing. 

The king of Naples took the command of the 
r,rmy, but they marched with so much disorder and 
precipitation, that it was only when they arrived at 
Wilna, that the soldiers were informed of a depar- 
ture as discouraging as it was unexpected. * What,' 
said they among themselves, ' is it thus that he 
abandons those of whom he calls himself the father ? 
Where then is that genius, who, in the height of 
prosperity ^ exhorted us to bear our sufferings patient- 



THE' NIE>1EN. 326 

]y ? He who lavished our blood, is he afraid to die 
with us ? Will he treat us hke the army of" Egypt, 
to whom, after having served him faithfully, he be- 
came indifferent, when, by a shameful flight he found 
himself free from danger ?' Such was the conversa- 
tion of the soldiers, which they accompanied by the 
most violent execrah'ons. Never was indignation 
more just, for never were a class of men so worthy of 
pity. 

The presence of the emperor had kept the chiefs 
to their duty, but whea they heard of his departure, 
the greater part of them followed his example, and 
shamefully abandoned the remains of the regiments 
with which they ha I been intrusted. Until then we 
had found, at intervals, some few armed soldiers, 
who, conducted by their officers, rallied round the 
standard which they had sworn never to forsake, but 
with life. But from the moment that they were depriv- 
ed of their chiefs, and that unheard-of calamities had 
reduced their numbers, those brave soldiers, who were 
intrusted with the immediate charge, were reduced to 
the painful necessity of hiding them in their knapsacks. 
Many of them, sensible that they were expiritig, and 
knowing that the honour of a French soldier consisted 
in preserving his colours, with a weak hand dug .p 
the ground, to save from the Russians those ensiscns 
under which our arms had been raised to the pinnacle 
of glory. 

The division of Loison, which had come before 
us from Koningsberg, and that of the Neapolitans, 
from Wihiaj, having been obliged to encamp in a 



'326 



THE NIEMEN. 



cold of twenty-two degrees, were totally destroyed, 
aiid out of six thousand men, of which each was 
composed, we could only see, through a thick fog, 
some feeble battalions, who ran on the road like mad- 
men. They beat the earth with their feet, to keep 
themselves from being benumbed by the frost, and 
if, unfortunately, they were ura^ed by the wants of 
nature, losing the use pf their hands, they fell on the 
ground, and rose again no more. They who could 
support the fatigue of marching, only prolonged their 
misery ; and if, at length, weary of life, they wished 
to terminate their sufferings, it was necessary only to 
stand still. 

The road which we followed, presented, at every 
step, brave officers, covered with rags, supported by 
branches of pine, their hair and beards stiffened by 
the ice. These warriors, who, a short time before, 
were the terror of our enemies, and the conquerors of 
Europe, hriving now lost their fine appearance, crawl- 
ed slowly along, and could scarcely obtain a look of 
pity from the soldiers whom they had formerly com- 
manded. Their situation became still more dread- 
ful, because all who had not strength to march were 
abandoned, and every one who was abandoned by his 
comrades, in an hour afterwards inevitably perished. 
The next day every bivouac presented the image of a 
field of battle. Whenever a soldier, overcome with 
fatigue, chanced to fall, his next neighbour rushed 
eagerly upon him, and before he was dead, robbed 
him of all that he possessed, and even of his clothes. 
Every moment we heard some of these unhappy men 



THE NIEMEN. 327 

crying out for assistance. * My comrades,' cried 
one, with a heart-rending voice, ' assist me to rise ; 
lend nie a hand to pursue my march.' Eveiy one 
continued his march without regarding- him. * Ah V 
he continued, ' I conjure you, by every thing which 
is dear to you, do not abandon me to the enemy ; in 
the name of humanity, grant the little assistance I ask ; 
help me to rise.' But those who passed, far from 
being moved by this touching prayer, regarded hioi 
as already dead, and immediately began to strip him. 
We then heard him crying out, * Oh, help ! help ! 
They murder me ; they murder me ! why do you tram^o 
pie upon me ? Why do you snatch from me my money 
and my bread, and take from me even my clothes 1* 
If some generous officer did not arrive in time to de- 
liver them, many of these unfortunate beings would 
be assassinated by their own comrades. 

(December 7.) We arrived at Joupranoui a lit- 
tle before night. Overcome with fatigue, we were 
obliged to stop there. The ruined houses afforded 
us no shelter from the rigour of the season. Lying 
on each other, suffering with hunger, and pierced 
with cold, we passed the night in groans. 

We marched early in the morning (8th Decem- 
ber,) and arrived at Ochmiana about eleven o'clock. 
The winter was so severe, that the soldiers burnt 
whole houses to avoid being frozen. We saw round 
the fires, the half-consumed bodies of many unfortu- 
nate men, who, having advanced too near, in order 
to warm themse ves, and being too weuk to recede, 
had become a iney to the flames. Some miserable 



328 THE NIEMEN. 

beings, blackened with smoke, and besmeared with 
the blood of the horses vvhich they had devoured, 
wandered like ghosts, round ihe burning houses. 
They g'azed on the dead bodies of their compa .ons, 
and, too feeble to support themselves, fell down, and 
died like them. 

We expected to have received some provisions 
in this town, but we were inlorn ed that the cossacks 
had pillaged the magazines, and that Napoleon had 
passed through half an hour ai'er they were gone^ 
We then continued our route, marchmg in the midst 
of the dead and the dying, and at length arrived at 
the wretched stone chaieau of Kovno-Pol^, where 
the prince and his staff passed a mi erable n ght. 

Misfortune having equalized all conditiouis, everj 
thing was confounded. It was in vain that the offi- 
cers endeavoured to assert their authority ; it was in*r 
solently denied. The coionei, who I ad no food, was 
obliged to beg apiece of buiscuit fiom the private 
soldier. The man who possessed provisions, al- 
though he were a servant, was .surrounded by a 
cfowd of courtiers, who, to obtain h od, threw aside 
their rank and distinction, and condescended to caress 
bim. In short, to form an adequate idea of the dread- 
fiil disorder to which famnie and ctld had reduced 
us, you must figure to yourself thui)^ thousand nsen^ 
of different ranks, marching togetlser, w thout order 
and without discipline ; ignorant of the road they 
were jt'oing, and o ily stO;)pnig when wearmess or ca- 
price impelled them. The chiefs t! emseives, ber ^ 
accustomed to command, were the UiOst uniorluuate. 



THE NIEMEN. -82^ 

They were shunned, to avoid rendering* them assist^ 
ance ; for, in our situation, even to give a glass of 
l^ater, or to raise a feilow-soldier from the ground, 
were offices of kindness which claimed the warmesi 
gratitude. 

The route was covered with soldiers who no long« 
er retained the human form, and whom the enemy 
disdained to make prisoners. Every day these miser- 
able men made us witnesses of scenes too dreadful to 
relate. Some had lost heir hearing, others their 
speech, and many, by excessive cold and hunger, 
Were reduced to a state of frantic stupidity, in which 
they roasted the dead bodies of their conu'ades for 
food, or even gnawed their own hands and arms.* 
Some were so weak, that, unable to lift a piece of 
wood, or roll a stone towards the fires w hich they 
had kindled, they sat upon the dead bodies of their 
comrades, and, with a haggard countenance, stead- 
fastly gazed upon the burning coals. No sooner 
was the fire extinguished, than these living spectres, 
unable to rise, fell by the side of those on whom they 
had sal. We saw many who were absolutely insane. 
To warm their frozen feet, they plunged them naked 
into the middle of the fire. 8ome, with a convulsive 
laugh, threw themselves into the fiames, a. id perisii- 
ed in the most horrible convulsions, and uUering tiie 
most piercing cries ; while others, equally msane, ni- 
mediately followed them, and expeiienced the same 
fate. 

* OfiicJal Report, publisbed by the Mttssiaas at WUaa, 2#, 

43 



330 THE NIEMEN. 

Such was our situation when vie arrived at the 
village of Hoiikoni, where some wretched barns alone 
remained filled with dead bodies. Being" only three 
leagues from Wilna, many continued their march, 
that they might arrive first in that city ; where they 
hoped not only to find abundance of provisions, but 
to remain some days and enjoy that repose which they 
so much needed. The fourth corps, which could 
not muster more than two hundred men, who were 
yet faithful to their duly, halted in this wretched vil- 
lage. 

At break of day we hastened to quit Roukoni, 
where the cold and the smoke had prevented us from 
closing our eves. When we were commencing our 
!m.«rch, the Bavarians, who formed the rear-guard, 
hastily advanced, crying out that the enemy was pur- 
suing them. The evening before, it was reported 
that I hey had obtained some advantages over the cos- 
sacks ; but the disorder in which they now arrived^ 
proved that this intelligence was false. However, 
we must do them the justice to say that they yet re- 
tamed some pieces of cannon, but the horses were se 
weak that they could not drag them along. 

fCvery day's march presented a repetition of the 
mournful scenes of which I have given a slight sketch.. 
Our hearts were so hardened to these dreadful spec- 
tables, that all sensibility was entirely lost. Self-pre- 
servation was the on\y motive wfiich actuated us, in 
the state of barbarism to which we were reduced. 
Wilna occupied every thought, and (he hope that that 
position would permit us to take some repose, inspir- 



THE NIEMEN, 631 

ed those who were able to continue their march, with 
such extreme joy, that they regarded with indifference 
the miserable beings who crowded the road, strug- 
gling with the agonies of death. Wilna, however, 
the object of our dearest hopes, and to which we were 
pressisig on with such eagerness, was soon found to be 
another Smolensko. 

At length we arrived at its suburbs, so ardently de- 
sired ; but our happiness was sadly alloyed, when we 
saw the whole of this immense place obstructed by a 
crowd of carriages, horses, and men. This confusion 
recalled the Beresina to my mind ; and such was our 
stupidity, that, being accustomed to follow our colui tn, 
we were afraid of losing ourselves if we ventured a 
few steps from it ; thus, while all were pressing aganst 
each other to enter at the same gate, there were, at the 
right and left, other avenues unobstructed. 

When we arrived in the city, we found it in ex- 
treme disorder : the soldiers were running in every 
direction lo ascertain the quarters assigned to their 
respective corps. Those of the fourth corps going 
to the municipality, saw written in large characters, 
that they were to quarter in the convent of St Ra- 
phael on the other side of the Vilia. Before they 
went thither they ran as if they were almost famished 
from house to house demanding food. The eating 
houses and taverns, not being sufficient for the im- 
mense number of guests, were instantly shut up. 
But hunger determined us to find provisions ; and we 
were compelled to break open the doors. Oihei*i 



S3f THES NfEMENo 

with monev in their hands, pursued the Jews, who, in 
s|»i*e ofoiu" t^eiierosity, could not satisfy us to the ex- 
tend of our wants. 

At Wihia, we heard that Napoleon had passed 
throug^h incofjnito, escDrted by a i\ ehre detachment of 
three reo"!nients of Neapolitan cavahy, which had been 
sent before him to clear his route. These poor inha- 
b;tants of the south were half dead when they passed 
in review ; scarci ly had they departed from Wilna, 
when a third part of them fell into the rear, having 
their hands, feet, and noses, entirely frozen. The de- 
puriureof Niipoleon in this disguised manner, not only 
sj>read consternation among- the Lithuanians, who were 
devoted to us, but sadly discouraged the French troops. 
The first were indignant at finding themselves exposed 
to the resentment of a master, whose yoke they had 
wished to shake ofif"; the others were alarmed for their 
own preservation, for, in a silaation so critical, every 
one thought that the absence of the chief, consummat- 
ed our ruin. Many, however, who felt all the dangers 
to which we were exposed, yet jealous for the glory 
of our arms, thought his departure was fortunate. — 
* Napoleon,' said they, * when at Paris, will reorganize 
a noble army ; will secure the peace of France, and 
maintain the co-operation of the allies, whose defec- 
tion would be so dangerous.' 

About three o'clock in the afternoon, the rear of 
our long column had scarcely entered the suburbs, 
when we heard that the cossacks had taken posses- 
sion of the heights which commanded the city. In 



'XHE NtEMEN. 335 

^affect they soon hegan to fire upon us. At tbe report 
of the cannon, the new troops who were at Wilna, beat 
the drum and sounded the trumpet. In an instant 
the place was in arms. By one of" those chances by 
which Providence confounds the proud, and punishe- 
the insolent, it happened that the colossal power of Na- 
poleon was so completeh reduced in ihis iron climate; 
as to have no other support than the remains of a Ne- 
apolitan division, formed from the garrisons of Taren- 
turn and Capua. These troo; s being quickly dispers- 
ed, terror immediately spread through the city ; and 
at the single word of the * cossacksj all the soldiers 
ru-thed from their quarters and betook themselves to 
flight. The king of Naples, forgetting his rank, sud- 
denly abandoned his palace, and on foot, followed by 
his officers, pierced through the crowd, and escaped 
from the town to encamp on the road to Kowno, 

While some of the soldiers took arms, others, as 
night advanced, profiting by the evacuation of the 
magazines, carried off the clothes and military equip- 
ments wh.cb had been collected there ; but the greater 
part searching only for food, knocked at every door, 
and their redoubled blows seemed the dreadful pre- 
sage of a universal pillage. The inhabitants, trembling 
in their houses, dreaded the impending desolation, as 
they heard on every side the noise of cannon, which 
thundered over their heads. 

We gave up all hope of repose, and the feeble re- 
lics of our army not being able to resist the attacks 
of the enemy, we deteriMiaed to profit by the obscu- 



334 THE NIEMEN, 

rity of the ni^lit, to quit so dangerous a position. It 
was decided, that at eleven o'clock we should evacu- 
ate the town. The hour being- arrived, we silently 
proceeded on our route, leaving- the streets covered 
with soldiers, intoxicated, asleep, or dead. Th« 
courts, the gdleries, the stairs of the various buildings, 
were filled with them, and not one would march, or 
even rise to obey the orders of the chief who called 
Iiim. After leaving Wiina, with as much difficulty 
as we entered it, the prince and the staff went to the 
king of Naples, where all the officers remained till 
one o'clock in the mornino-. 

lii the middie of a dark night (10th December,) 
we marched on the road to Kowno, but the snow 
which covered the country, caused us to wander eve- 
ry moment, and left us for a long time uncertain of 
the road; for the Poles going to New-Troki, had left 
the traces of another route which was calculated to 
mislead ns. Two hours afterwards we arrived at the 
foot of a mountain, inaccessible on account of its 
steepness, and the ice with which it was covered. All 
arout;d were the remains of the equipages of Napo- 
leon, the bag-gage left at Wilna, the treasures of the 
army, and the waggons containing the fatal trophies 
brought from Moscow, so that we no longer doubted 
that we were on the road to Kowno. 

While we were groaning at the foot of this moun- 
tain, without the power to climb it, we distinctly 
heard the firnig between the cossacks and our sharp- 
shooters. Actuated by that unseasonable discontent 
and lil-humour which mistortune inspires, many ex-^ 



THE NIEMEN. 335 

tiaimed that it would have been belter to have gone 
to New-Troki, and to have avoided this fatal moun- 
tain. All who were thus arrested here, and who were 
mostly sick or wounded, considered themselves as £1. 
certain prey to the enemy. Their grief was increased 
by the reflection that they must perish after having 
so nearly reached the wished for post, and having- es- 
caped the dangers of Krasnoe and the Beresina. 
Their grief was soon changed to despair, when we 
heard that the cossacks, having passed Wihia, had 
pursued our rear-guard, and were advancing towards 
US. Dire necessity, however, compelled us to wail 
til! the dawn of day, that we might discover whether 
there were any means of going round the monntain, 
which our horses -could not climb. In this iisterval 
we kindled a fire, and every one deeply sighing", ini* 
patiently waited the return of day. 

We looked every where in vain ; the mountain 
was so slippery, and the horses so fatigued, that we 
despaired of escape. The idea then occuied tons of 
compelling the soldiers of the escort to carry the mo- 
ney belonging to the military chest. It then contain- 
ed about five millions, the greatest pert of which was 
in crowns. We had little doubt, however, that the 
soldiers, whom it was imp(')ssible to watch, cr to de- 
tect, would carry off, for their own use, that which 
was intrusted to their care. The standards taken 
from the enemy, respecting which these venal wretch- 
es were no ioj»ger uiLerested, were cowardly aban* 
doned at the toot of the mountain. Among these 
was tiie famous cross of (St. I VV8P, which world hnvp-- 



336 THE KIEMF.N. 

made so glorious an addition to our trophies, if the 
Russians, whom we termed barbarians, bad not given 
us a noble example of a moderation which rarely ac? 
companies victory. 

Tiiose who followed augmented the number of 
plnnderers, and it was truly curious to see those who 
were dying- with hunger, \Adeii with more riches ihau 
they could possibly carry. They saw the money dis- 
tributed among them, wilh the most perfect indif^er-. 
ence ; and searched in preference lor the coarsest lood,, 
[Vuiiks and portmanteaus broken o >en and plunder- 
ed, were seen in every direction. Tiie most su;;erb 
court-dresses, and the richest lurs were worn by 
^hose whose couatenances were hiiteous and disgust- 
ing. Returning from the pdlage, many of them 
offered sixty francs for a louis, and some gave ten 
crowns for a glass of brandy. Ore of the soldiers^ 
in my presence, offered to sell a cask filled with sd- 
ver, for a few pieces of go!d : it was bought by a 
superior officer who placed it on his sledge. 

It is impossible to form an adequate idea of the con- 
iusion which our army now j)resenled. Far from be- 
ing reanimated by the presence of some battalions 
lately arrrived from Prussia, they spread consternatioa 
among these new troops, who, not knowing whom to 
obey, likewise threw away Ihesr arms, and increased the 
crowd of stragglers. In short, ail our soldiers, trans- 
formed into brokers, only songhl to sell their stolen 
goods, while those who had pi.h^ged the mihlary 
chest were eager to buy, that they might, at e st, 
'etain something valuab.e. Every one s^^oke fami*. 



THE NiEMEN. 33^ 

liarly of ingots and jewels. Every soldier was laden 
with silver, but none with a musket. Ought we to 
be astonished at the fears which the cossacks in- 
spired ? 

In this state of confusion, after five hours distress- 
ing march, we arrived at Ev^, about ten leagues 
frona Wilna. We had scarcely entered it when the 
count Mejean,* supported by his son and the valet 
de chambre of the prince, arrived. This uniortu- 
liate father, to whose generous devotion to the ser- 
vice I regret that the limits of my work will not jjer- 
mit me to do justice, had been obliged to travel on 
foot, from the mountain of Wilna, across a country 
covered with snow. But this nobleman, whose cour- 
age had often astonished us, and who, though not a 
soldier, had patiently endured the sufferings to which 
we were subjected, felt such great attachment to the 
prince, that he quite forgot the mistoftuiies of the 
day as soon as he found himself in the presence of his 
highness. 

Similar miseries happened to others. The prince 
of Eckmuhl, weakened by a fever, could only travel 
in a carriage. The quarter-master-general Joubert, 
who had long been destitute of servants, had been 
left in this village, in a situation so miserable, that he 
excited the tears of all who saw him. We were 

« Counsellor of state of the kingdom of Italy, and secretary 
to the viceroy. He had been present during the whole cam- 
paign with his two sons, and heard at the Bert shia, that his youiig>^^ 
mi son haa been killed at the battle ol Polotsk, 

44 



338 THE KIEMEN. 

equally anxious resjjectinsj the fate of many other of- 
ficers who remained with the baggage of the prmce. 
In the evening* we ascertained, that owing fo the skill 
and extraordinary activity of the adjutant of the pal- 
ace Boiitarel, these strasrglers, had gone to New- 
Troki to avoid the mountain ofWilna, and that it 
was only the length of the journey which prevented 
them from arriving at Ev6. 

(December 1 Ith.) Leaving this village, we were 
informed by those who had escaped from Wilna, 
that the Russians had entered it at day-break. A 
crowd of generals, colonels, and officers, and more 
than twenty thousand soldiers, who were detamed by 
weakness, fell into their hands. They added, that 
the officers had been well treated, but that every sol- 
dier or servant was immediately ordered to Moscow, 
to be employed in rebuilding the city. These unfor- 
tunate men lying in the streets, or public places, 
without fire, without food, and most of them wound- 
ed or sick, presented a spectacle so afflicting, that the 
enemy endeavoured to mitigate their sufferings. The 
least to be pitied, were those who, having been plun- 
dered by the cossacks, died shortly after our depar- 
lure. We now had a thousand proofs of human 
weakness! the same men who had dragged them- 
selves along from Moscow to Wilna, wanted courage 
to pursue their course a few leagues more, when that 
little space would have ensured their existence. We 
heard also that the Jews had ill-treated many of our 
soldiers, particularly those of the imperial guard, llsus 
wishmg to take revenge for the losses which they had 



THE NIEMEN, S39 

suffered ; but the Russians, with that justice which 
always characterised them, hung* many of these 
Israelites, as a lesson to the people that they should 
not mingle their passions with the quarrels of sove* 
reig'ns. 

The rear of our long column, which covered all 
the road with the dead and the dying, was continually 
followed by a cloud of cossacks, who pillaged our 
soldiers, and afterwards left them to the custody of 
the peasants, who carried tiieni into the rear, after 
ti eating them with a thousand indignities. At length 
the Russians, weary of making prisoners, liberated 
all the soldiers belonging to the ^confederation of the 
Rhine, and contented themselves with detaining offi- 
cers of distinction. But when they seized a Freneh- 
Bian, miserable as he was, they strijiped him, and 
treated him with the greatest ridicule. If he march- 
ed with them during the night, he was ordered to 
fetch water or wood. They afterwards brutally drove 
him from the fire which he had kindled. Such was 
the fatal lot of the soldiers, who compelled to fight, 
are always the principal victims of the calamities 
which flow from the quarrels of kings. 

A Gossack officer, who spoke very good French, 
overtook one of our sutlers, who earnestly implored 
mercy, exclaiming that he was not a soldier. He 
then offered his purse to satisfy the cossacks. Not 
content with this prize, they began to search him, 
and found in his pockets boxes of gold, diamonds, 
and numerous rings enriched with precious stones, 
which he had, no doubt, taken at the pillage of Mos? 



S40 THE NIEMEN. 

COW. At the sijffht of this, the officer could not re« 
strain his mdignation, and said to the sutler, * See 
to what your avar ce has reduced you. In the hope 
of plunder, you have followed the armies, to share in 
their hooiy, wthout partaking- of their dangers. In 
obtaining^ these much desired riches, you have been 
enfeebled by their weight, and could not escape m^^ 
pursuit. I could justly send \ou captive to the city 
you have ravaged; but you are too miserable to re^ 
build that which you have destroyed. Return if you 
can to France ; and when you speak of our clemency, 
describe to your fellow citizens the miserable state 
to which they expose themselves, who trouble the 
peace of the world, by following; the standards of an 
unjust aggresso!.' At these words he left him to 
the Cossacks, who, disdaining to make him prisoner, 
drove him before them, beating him with the handle 
of their lances. 

Before we arrived at Zismori, we heard a can- 
nonade at opr rear, and at no great distance ; we 
lience concluded that the few soldiers of the rear- 
guard which remained, were briskly pursued. Not» 
withstanding this, the fatigue of the troops was so 
great that many, preferring repose to safety, stopped 
at Zismon ; but the viceroy went on to the village of 
Koumchichki. 

(December 12th.) Exhausted by long and harass- 
ing marches, and dyhig with fatigue, we at length 
arrived at Kowno, where the wiecks of the different 
corps were re-united. They encamped as usual in 
the streets, and as we knew that our deplorable sit- 



THE NIEME^. 24T 

uation no lona^er permitted us to preserve any disci=^ 
pline, we g-ave up to pillag-e the magazines, which 
were amply stored. Immediately, clothes, corn, and 
rum, were every where seen in abundance. Our 
quarters were filled with broken casks, and the liquor 
which was spilled, formed a little sea, in the middle 
of the public square. The soldiers, having long* been 
deprived of this beverage, drank to excess, and more 
than two thousand of them, completely intoxicated, 
slept upon the snow. Benumbed with cold, they all 
perished. 

It was announced in the evening that the fourth 
corps would lake the road to Tiisit ; and as many of 
IIS, to avoid the strange confusion which generally 
prevailed, had been accustomed to sleep Oiie or two 
leagues beyond the head-quarters, a great number 
set out towards that town. In the middle of the 
night, the chief of the stuff ctme to look for the 
fourth corps, which was literally shut up in a single 
room. He told us that the ordei- had bee > revoked ; 
and that we were to proceed to Gumbinnen instead 
of Tilsit. This order and counter-order completed 
our ruin. From that time, the fourth corps consist- 
ed only of the household of the prmce, and about 
eight or ten staff-officers. 

(December I3lh,) A** we left Kowno on the raor 
row, we found the game tumult which we had ex- 
perienced at the gate of Wilna. The crewd \Vd> 
pressing towards the bridge, although the Nieniea 
was frozen hard enough to have borne the weight of 
artiiiery. la Kowno sind its environs, we say a greai 



342 THE NIEMEN. 

mimher of unfortunate soldiers lyin^ on the snow^ 
who had perished when they so nearly reached the 
end of this fatal expedition. VVe were particularly 
affected at seeing- colonel Vidman amon^ the dead. 
He was one of the small number of the Italian guards 
of honour, who had, tdl then, sustained the same fa- 
tigues as ourselves; but, unable to proceed further, 
he fell, as he was leaving Kowno to cross the bridge, 
and expired, without having the satisfaction of dying 
out of Russia. 

The calamities of the army had extended to the 
imperial guard, and many of its soldiers died every 
day from hunger, cold, and fatigue. Among these 
victims I saw one truly worthy of admiration. He 
was an old grenadier. As he lay on the bridge of 
Kowno, he was spared by the crowd, who, passing 
by him, had respected his uniform, his decorations, 
and, above all, his th*ee chevrons. This brave man 
seemed to await his dealh with the utmost firmness, 
and disdained to have recourse, like so many others, 
to useless supplications. By chance, some of his 
comrades passed by, and then he made a last effort 
to rise, but unable to accomplish it, and feeling him- 
self dying, he summoned all his strength, and said 
to one of his companiong, who approached to assist 
him, * Cense, my friend. Do not lavish ou me su- 
perfluous assistance. 1 die With regret at being con- 
quered by eiicmies with whom we could not fight. 
Famine and winter have alone reduced me to the 
slate in which you now see me. Tins body, which 
has supperted more than ten wounds, falls miserably 



'THE NIEMEN. M^ 

to-day for want of a morsel of breafl. Ah! if our 
enemies iiuieed trimnph by means of the rigour of 
their climate, let them not profane the distinclions 
that I have gained in tighting against them. C<a-ry 
to my captain this decoration, which was given to 
me on the field of Austerlitz ; take him likewise my 
sabre ; I used it in the b;«ttle of Friediand, and il 
would still be as fatal to the Russians, as it was at 
tiiat period, if the approaching spring would permit 
us to go to Petersburg, as we have been to Mos-> 
cow.* 

On the morning of the 13th of December, out of 
four hundred thousand warriors, who had crossed 
the Nienien^ at the opening of the campaign, scarce- 
ly twenty thousand men repassed it, of whom at least 
two thirds had not seen the Kremlin. Arrived at 
the opposite bank, like ghosts returned from the in- 
fernal regions, we fearfully looked behind us, and 
beheld with horror the savage couiitries where we luid 
suffered so much. No person would then easily be- 
lieve that we had once regarded these climates wiih- 
envy, and thought those dishonoured who arrived at 
them last. 

After crossing the bridge, we turned to the left 
to reach Gumbinnen. Many wished to go to the 
right; still thinking, after the order of the preceding 
evening, that they must, march to Tiisit. We, who 
followed the proper road, had not proceeded far, 
when we were obliged to c)imb a lofty mountain^ 
prodigiously sleep, and which would have been fa- 
tal to our equipages, if we had not long ago been 



344 THE NIlEaiEI«. 

deprived of them. Many carts arid Carriages which 
-were in the depot of Kowno, and a superb park of 
artillery, lately arrived from Kuningsberg, were left 
at the foot of the mountain. 

Scarcely had we arrived in Poland, when our sol- 
diers dispersed in different roads, and wandered, like 
simple travellers, in the same country* Which six 
months before, had been covered With our numerous 
armies. In the evening, the king of Naples and the 
prince halted at Skrauda. The si^^me n>orning .(14th 
December,) when We departed fn m th-s vdlage, the 
cossacks entered Kowno, passed the Niemen, which 
was frozen at every point, and spread themselves over 
the immense plains of Poland, wheie they massacred, 
or made prisoners many of our scattered soldiers, 
who, not thinking that the Russians would pass the 
Niemen, thought that they were safe. 

From Skraudamany took the direction of Thorn } 
but the viceroy still contniued to iollow the road of 
Gumbinnen, and arrived in this little town after h v- 
ing slept at Pillwizken, Virballen, and Datkehmea 
(14th, 15th, ItJth, and 17ih December.) Thence he 
sent general Gifflenge, his aid-de-camp, to Konings- 
berg, to order all those of the 4lh c(-rps who had tak-= 
ea the road of Tiisit, to proce«3d to Manenwerder. 

Konmgsberg bemg the first great city m ihe vicin- 
ity of our march, was soon filled with those who^ 
having escaped from Moscow, hoped now to recover 
from the raistortunes which lUey hiid sntfe ed. The 
coffee-houses, the restaiualeurs, the iur..ished bote s^ 
oouid not at any one t^nce satislv the extent of ouf 



^ants. It vi'as necessary to piierce through a crowd 
to enter any of Ihem, The cold was terrible but the 
deh'cious sensation of knowing- that we could now 
defend ourselves against it, and moreover the plea* 
sure of obtaining whatever we desired, Wiere still 
inore heightened, since six months of continual hard- 
ships had deprived us of every thing- in which the 
comforts of life consisted. 

Thie ktng of Naples came to Konih^sbergi where 
lie wis cbldly received by the principal authorities of 
the town. The chiefs of each corps placed themselves 
in cantonments along thfe Yistula, and occupied the 
towns of Plock, Thorn, Mari'euberg, Marienwerder, 
and Elbing. During this lime the Viceroy, having 
>quitled Gumbinnen, passed by Insterberg and Web- 
laU, (18th, IDlh December.) to visit the fields of 
Friedland, Eylau, and Heilsberg (20lh, 2l.st, 22d, 
December,) thus furnishing himself^ even m these 
unhappy circumstances, with subjects for useful me*- 
ditation. (27lh December) His highness arrived at 
Marienwerder, where he was occupied in collecting 
together all who remained of the fourth corps. After 
«very research, we succeeded in collecting about 
feight hundred wounded, the miserable remains of 
forty-eight thousand warriors, all of whom had march- 
ed from Italy to Russia. They were the victims, not 
of the arms of the enemy, but of the fatal imprudence 
of their chief, who, not satisfied with having subju- 
gated the best half of Europe, wished to contend with 
the elements, for a country which consisted only of 
deserts. The viceroy afterwards despatched toward* 
44 



346 THE KlEiiEN. 

France and Italy those officers and soldiers, whose iit-^ 
fiimities would not permit them to undertake anoiber 
campaign. He rewarded those soldiers who had be- 
haved well, and punished, by the most sensible dis- 
graces^ those few who had dishonoured themselves 
by a cowardly and pusillanimous conduct. 

Such were the dreadful Ccslam»ties which annihi- 
lated a powerful army, which had rashly undertaken 
the proudest and the most useless of all expeditions. 
If we look into the annals of antiquity^ we shall tind 
that never, smce the time of Gamb^^ses, did so nume- 
rous a body of men experience such dreadful re- 
verses. Thus were the bofastful predictions ot Na- 
poleon at the campaign, literally fulfilled, but with this 
difference, thatn<)t Russia, but himself * hurried away 
b^ a fatality^ had accomplished his destiny/ These 
calamities have had one happy result, by putting an 
end to a despotic influence ; they have restored t«r 
Europe her liberty j and to France her happiness. 



•E-NB OF THE NA11RATI¥% 



ITINERARY 

Of the march of the Fourth Corps in the Russian Ter^ 
ritory, during the Campaign oflSl'Z. 

LeagueSc 

1 July, 1812, from Pilony ta Kroni - 2 

2 — *— Melans^ani - ^ - - ^ 

3 — --^ Rouicontoui - - - =- - 6 

4 ^ New-Troki » , .. - 3 

5 < Halted. 

6 — ^ Ditto. 

7 Rudniki - - - - - 6 

8 — ' — r Paradomin - - - - - ^ 

9 Halted. 

10 Paulovo - - - - - - 4 

(At the castle of the count of Choiseuil.) 

11 Ochmiana - - ^ - - 6^ 

12 Sinorghoni ----- 8 

13 — r— Halted. ^ 

14 From Smorghoni to Zachkevitschi ^ 3J 

16 Vileika - - - -- - 8 

;j6 -_ K^stenevitschi - - - - 6 

Carried over 62,1-2. 

The emperor Napoleon passed the Niemen at Kowno, the 24th 
June; the 22d, being at Wilkowiski, he declared war against Rus- 
sia The fourth corps, commanded by the riceroy of Italy, passed 
the Niemen at Pilony ; the advanced-guard effected its passage th^ 
29tb ; but the prince and the fifteenth division passed on the I 
July. On the 28th Napoleon was at Wilna. 



848 }TINERARY» 

lipases; 
Brought over (12^ 

17 July Po'«-bir©w ^ » = » - 4|. 

18 Dokzce „ , ^ , = 7 

19 — Hailed. 

20 — — Bereziivo - - = = =. 6-|. 

21 .^ — _= Po nchna, or Gloaboko6 - ?• - ^t 

22 " ' Kamen » = » - = 6 

23 — ^ Botscheikovo » - - - = 3-|. 

24 — r— Ft om Smorllioni to Bezenkovitschi ^ 4 

25 . .. ., Roritza (3 iHag-nesonthissideOstrowBo) 4f 

26 -— Combat(bivouac at small castle Dobhjka) 5|, 

27 Bivouac before Witepsk - = 2|- 

28 — — BivQuap at Ag^haponovchtchina ° » 5| 

29 — ,- — Sourai <, „ = = =. ^ 

30 Halted. 

1 August Dittc 

2 — ^ Ditto, 

3 Ditto. 

4 _ Ditto. 

5 — — Ditto. 

6 Ditto. 

7 . Ditto, 

8 — Dittoo 

9 . — ^ From Sourai to Janowitschi » ^ 4 

10 — ^ Halted. 

11 — _ Velechkovitschi - ^ » - Bf 

12 — Lozua „ - » - » 2f 

13 _ — . Liouvavitschi .= - - - 5| 

14 ^ — _ Kasasua « - - = - 4 



Carried over 143 



ITINEKARy, B4» 

Leagues. 
Brought over 143 
15 August Siniaki - - - - * 7,1-4 

16 'Katov^ ... - - - 3 

17 Bivouac (at a league from Korouitnia) 5 

18 Bivouac(nearthec/i«^eawofNovoidvor)5 

jg— — Suburb of Smolensk - - - 1,1-2 
^0 — — Passed the Nieper (bivouac above Smo- 
lensk „-••=- l-S, 
21 -^ Bivouac same place. 

22 — Ditto. 

23 ^ Volodimerowa ■^ - -^ *• 6 
24-, — Pologhi . . - - %. 7,1-2 

25 Zaz^l6 r , - - - - 5,1-2 

«26 Mikailovskoe . - - - 7,1-2 

27 ^ Agopochma (passed the Niemen at 

Blaghove) - - - - 4,1-2 

28 — — - Bivouac (round a chateau a league be- 
yond Bereski) - - - - 4 

29 From Agopochina to Novoe - 9 

30 Halted. 

31 Pokron - ^ - = - 6,3-4 

1 September Paul ova - - - - 6,1-2 

2 — — Woremiewo » » =. » 2 

3 ^ Halted. 

4 Louzos ----- 5,1-? 

5 •• Eiicamped on the heights of Borodino 4 

Q Ditto. 

7 Battle. 

S — " — Ouspenskoe, or Krasnoe - 3,1-4 



Carried over 236,1-4 



mo- irmER^RY. 




Brought over 
9 6epteml)cr Rouza - ? 
10 Halted. 


Leagues. 
•236, 1-4 
-6,1-4 


11 Alpalchtchonina r 

12 Zwenighorod 


4,1-2 

3,1-2 


f g __ — Buzaievo „ « 


6,1-2 


14 _ IChorechevo - - 


. 4,3-4 


Id Moscow 


2 


Total from Pilony to Moscow 


263,3-4 



Slopped in this city from 15th September, until 
18 October. Village on the road from Kalouga, 
a league from Moscow - - 1 

19 ^ Little village, near B^toutinka bivouac 5 

2'> Inatowo = - - 7,1-2 

21 Fominskoe » ■=• - 3 

22 •, Halted. 

23 -- — From Fominskoe to a village half a 

league beyond Borovsk bivouac -> 7,1-4- 

24 Battle of Malo-Jaroslavitz. Bivouac 4,3-4^ 

25 Hasted. 

26 Onvarovskofrbivouoc ,. - 4 

27 Alfer^va ' - ' » - 4,1-2 

28 Ysilage a leag-ue beyond Borisov, sup- 
posed to be M!tia6va - - 2,1-2 

29 Ous|;enskoe, called Krasnoe bivouac 5,1-2 

30 Village half a league on the right of the 

road between Kolotskoi an<i P«okofevo 
bivouac - „ . 6 



Carried over 51 



iTINERART. m 

Leasrueso 

Brought over 51 

^1 October Ghiat bivouac - « - 8,1^ 

1 November Near Velitchevo bivouac 5 

2 Fopderovskoe bivouac . - ^,1-4 

3 ___ — u Battle of Viazina, bivouac half a 

league further - - 8,1-2 

4 — ^ Rouibki, a leag-ue beyond Semlevo 7 

5 Jolkov Postoia Door - - 3^,1-^!^ 

6 Dorogboboui bivouac - 6 

7 From Fominskoe to Zazel^ bivouac 7 

8 Sloboda bivouae - - 4 

9 ■ ' • From Sloboda passed the Wop, bivou- 
acked at a little village, half a league 

from this river =• » 1 

10, Doiikhovchtchina * * 4,1-'^ 

11 Hated. 

12 ' Wolodimerowa bivouac *- 6,-3-4 

13 Siiioleusko - - ^,1-4 

14 — - Halted* 

15 - — ^ Hamlet three leagues from Smolensko, 

supposed to be Loubna - 3,1-2 

16 ' ■ - Krasnoe - * i 7 

17 ~- — Lfadoui - - ^ 1,1-3 

18 — — Dowbrowna - - S 

19 -»«__ Orcha * ^ = - 4 

20 — — Halted, 

21 Half a league before Kokhanovo bi- 
vouac - - - , 5 

22 — — Bivouac round a castle, half a league 

this side Toloschiu - 5 



Carried over 15»? 



362 ITIKERAHY« 

JBrouglit orer J6S 

23 November Bivooac three leagues from To* 

loschin Hear Jablonka * 4 

24 - - ■ Bobr ^ t. « * 4 

25 — L tile villag^e^ five leagfues from Bobr 

where there is an insulated church, 

bivouafc * ^ i. ^ 6,1-'!^ 

26 — ^-^^ From a village at Nemonitsa, to two 

and a half leagues on this side Bori* 

sovj bivouac ^ ^ d,!--!^ 

27 —'—— Studzianca, passage of theBeresina, 

biVotJafc ^ ^ * 4,1-^ 

28 — — Z-nlbin, bivouac, i ^ i 4,1-2 

29 Kamen, = = ^ ^ « 3,J-4^ 

30 Niestanovitschi^ near 2avichino^ * 6 

1 December Iliia » ^ * - * 4,1-2 

2 — Molodetschino^ & 4 ii 6 

3 . Halted. 

4 village supposed to be Markovo bivouac 7 

5 — — Smorghonij = =. - - 4^1-4 

6— Joupranoui i « ^ * 5 

7 Rovno^Ptle bivouac * » - 6 

8 Roukoni bivouac » * 5,1-^ 

9 «. Wilna * =. „ ^ 3 

10 Ev6 bivouac - - - 10 

11 Zismori - - - - 6 

12 - — — Kowno i = i » 10 



Total 2;j6,1-2 



From Niemeu to Moscow 263,3-4 

Total 520,1-4 



A. J_ilo JL 

Of all the Persons mentionedin this work, with their 
Rank, diuing the Campaign in Russia, 

IVAPOLEON. 

Jerome Bonaparte, kinaj of Westphalia commander of the 8th corps. 

Joachim Murat. king of Naples, commander of all the cavalry 

Eugene de Beauharnois.viceroy of Italy, commander of the 4th corps 

Berthier, prince of Nfufchatel and of Wagram, major general. 

Davoust, prince of Eckmuhl, commander of 1st corps. 

Oudjnot. duke of Reggio, do, 2d. 

Ney, duke of Elchingen, do. 3d prince of Moskwa. 

Prince Poniatowski, do. 5th. 

Marshal count St Cyr, do. 6th. 

General count Regnier, do. 7th. 

Junot, duke of Abrantes, do. 8th. 

Victor, duke of Be'luno, do. 9th 

Duke of Tarentum, do. 10th. 

Prince Schwartzenberg, commander of the Austrian auxiliary corps, 

Bessieres, duke of Istria. commander of the cavalry of the guard. 

Caulincourt, duke of Vicenza, general of division, grand ecuyer. 

Duroc. duke of Frioul, general, grand marshal of the palace. 

Count Rapp, do. ) aids de camp to the 

Count Lauriston, do. ) emperor. 

Count Lefebre Desnouettes. general of division, colonel of the horse 

chasseurs of the guard. 
Count Priant, general of division, colonel of the grenadiers of the 

foot guards. 
Count Naosouty, ^ 

Count Grouchy, > Commanders of cavalry corps. 

Count Montbrun, ) 
General Dessoles, chief of the viceroy's staff. 
Count Danthouard, commander of the artillery of the 4th corps. 
Count Ebl6, general of division of artillery, commander of the 

bridge equipages. 
Count Gudin, ^ 

Baron Gerard, I 

Count Dessaix, I Generals of division — 1st corps 

Count Compans, i 

Count Moraod, j 

Count Verdier, '1 

Count Legrand, > Generals of division— 9d[ corps. 

Barom Merle, } 

45 



354 lilST OF NAMES. 

Baron Ledrut, commander of a division— 3d corps. 

Count of Claparede, general of division, commander of the legioE 

of the Vistula. 
Baron Delsons, ^ 

Count Broussier, > Generals of division-— 4th corps, 

C.)uat Pino, 3 

Baron Wrede, ^ 

General De Roy, > Bavarian generals — 6th corps^ 

General Sierbein, } 

Count Parthonneaux, > j.^^^^^,^ ^j. di,ision-9th corps. 
Baron Girard, S 

Baron Gramijean, commander of a division — lOth corps. 
General Gravers, ) p^^^^.^^ generals-lOth corps. 

General Kleist, ) * 

Count Charpeatier. general of division, governor of Smolensko. 
Count Baraguey d'Hilliers, general of division. 
Count Loison, comijqiander of a division, from Koningsberg. 
General Dombrowski, commander of a Polish division 
Count Sanson, general of division, chief of the topographical bureauf. 
Baron Haxo, general of division of engineers. 
Count Sebastiani, 1 

BaroD Lahoussaye, j 

Count Bruyeres, } Generals of division of cavalry. 

Bnron de St Germain, | 
Baron Doumerc, j 

Count Preyssing, commander of a division of light Bavarian cavalry^ 
Prince Caartoryski, grand marshal of the diet of Warsaw. 
Count Mejean, counsellor of state of the kingdom of Italy, and 

secretary of the viceroy. 
Genera' Poitevin (baron Maureillan,) commander of the engineers 

of the 4th corps. 
Baron Aubrey, commander of artillery of 2d corps. 

GENERALiS of BaiGADE 

Barons Ricard, Roussel. Huard, Piausanne, Bonami, Nagle, Ange- 
reau, Marion, Compere, Villata, Pontane, Levie, Cbastel, Berk- 
faeim, Colbert, Castex, Saint Geniez, Aug Caulincourt, Pajol^ 
Guyon. 

Pouget, general of brigade, governor of Witepsk, 

Lecchi, ditto. ditto, commander of the Italian guard. 

Lepel, aid de camp to the king of Westphalia. 

D'Hery, aid de camp to the king of Naples. 

Klengel, general in the Saxon service. 

General Jomini, governor of Orcha. 

|Baron Triaire, general of brigade, aid-decamp to the viceroy „ 



MST OP NAMES. 35^ 

Baron Gifflenge, general of brigade, aid decamp to the viceroy „ 
Baron Lacroix, c^^lonel, ditto. 
Count Louis TaS'jher Lapagerie, ^ 

Charles Labedoyere, ! ^^^.^^^ ^f squadrons. 

Maurice M jean, } 

Julfls Desseve. J 

Colonel Delfanti, officer of the ordnance of the viceroy. 

Andre Corner, lieutenant ditto. 

Liedot, colonel of engineers, 

Marboeuf, colonel of lancers. 

Kliski, Polish colonel, with the viceroy. 

Radzivil, colonel of the 8th P'^Hsh Hulans. 

Durieu, adjutant commander, sub-chief of the staff of the 4th corps. 

De Bourmont, ) 

Asselin, > Adjutant commanders attached to this staff* 

Forestier, y 

Colonel Grosbon, of the 53d regiment. 

= Battaglia. commander of the Italian guards of honour. 

■ Vidraann, commander of the company of the Venetian 

guards of honour. 

■ Demay, commander of the artillery of the 13th divisioDo 

Banco, of the horse chasseurs. 

Rambourg, of the 3d ditto. 



D'Oreille, major of the Spanish regiment Joseph Napoleon. 

Vives, major of artillery. 

Colaud, chief of battalion, waggon master-general of the 4th corps. 

Sewlinge, ditto, i^ttached to the staff. 

Boutarel, captain uf horse-chasseurs, adjutant of the palais royal 

of Alonza. 
Trezel, captain, aid-de-camp of general Guilleminot. 
Maisonneure, ^ 

Joaard, > Assistant captains of the staff of the 4th corps. 

Evrard, j 

Morlaincourt, captain of engineers to the 4th division. 
Bonardelle, captain of artillery. 

Ferrari, ^ ^^"'^' \ Oncers of hussari. 

Savarv' \ Captains qf the 9th of the line. 

Bordoni, ) Lieutenants in the Italian guards of 

Mastini, ) honour. 

Saint Mareellin de Pontanes, attached to thestaff of the 4(h corps„ 
Lesseps, French consul at Moscow 

yilleblanche, auditor of the council of state, intendant of Sma- 
lensko. 



-356 iTST OF NAMES. 



ALEX \N'DER f. einperor of Russia. 

Graiul (!uke C);istantioe. 

Prince K'liiurt^, cotamaMder-in-ebief of the Hussian army. 

Barclay d« Tilly, coinmander-in chief belbre the arrival or prince 

Kufusoff 
Prince Witt gje ostein, commander of the Is' Russ^ail corps. 
C Ba£;a\vout, do. 2<i do. 

SeSiomoaloff, do. 3d do. 

Generals I ^''^^^'''^^< <5o. 4lh do. 

J '^riace Bnwration, do. 5t^'* do. 

I 9octorovv, do, 6th do. 

(^ Corraasovv, do. 7t' do. 

Almiral Tj • liicax )if. com nanrler of the army of the Danube. 
Platotr aetman of the Cossacks. ^ki,^^ 

Pratoff, son. 

O' low D^aatsosv, general of the advanced-guard. 
Kamensld ^^ 

■j^^ ^ ' \. Generals commanders in Yolhynia. 

Essen, / "^ 

Marcoff, ) 

Repnin, ) Generals, commanders in the corps of 

Sreni;el, ) prince vVittgen- tein. 

Limbert, commanding a division of the army of the Danube. 
8 i.^ perse, general, employed in the second army of the West. 
Ostermann, ^ 

Beunigsen, ^ Generals employed in the centre of the Russiae 

Ouvarow, i ^ * 

Balla, } 

K mlaiew, general of light cavalry. 

K >ff general of cavalry. 

Miloradowitch. commander- general of the advanced-guard of prince 

Kuiusoff. 
Archbishop Platon. 

Bishop Augustin, vicar of Moscow. ^ 

Rostopchin, 
MomonofT, 

Oriow, y Nobles of Moscow. 

SaHikoff, 
Sherimitow, 

* Second corps, called the army of the west, 
THE ENt*. 




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